CAMPBELLVILLE, April 30 – Magic Shelley overcame traffic trouble around the final turn to win the harness racing Celias Counsel series final Thursday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
A field of ten three-year-old trotting fillies battled it out in the $35,000 Celias Counsel final Thursday evening. Hape came into the final with an opportunity for a series sweep and was sent off as the even-money favourite
The public's choice and trainer/driver Jack Moiseyev got away fifth in the early stages, while Giona and trainer/driver Wayne MacLean cut out a solid opening-half of :56.2.
Entering the final turn, Moiseyev brought Hape off the cones to catch second-over cover behind Tymal Signature.
However, Hape would gap her cover and make a break midway around the final turn. Magic Shelley and driver Chris Christoforou were sitting third-over behind Hape and were forced to go three-wide to avoid the breaker.
In the stretch, the first up challenger Tymal Signature would overtake the lead, but her lead would quickly evaporate, as Magic Shelley found her best stride on the far outside and powered by to win by a just over a length in 1:56.1.
Jls Too Hot Taj shot up the rail to nose out Tymal Signature for second, while Allies Gift finished fourth.
A daughter of Majestic Son, Magic Shelley is trained by Paul Reid for owner Robert Key. The sophomore trotting filly entered the final Thursday off a fourth and fifth-place finish in the preliminary rounds and was making just her third start of the season.
Magic Shelley now has three wins from 15 career starts and earnings of over $45,000. The clocking of 1:56.1 establishes a new-career mark for the Ontario sired filly.
Magic Shelley returned $12.80 to win.
In order to be eligible to the Celias Counsel, the three-year-old trotting fillies had to be non-winners of $30,000 in 2014.