Camara Moment & Chedda Chedda take series finals
MILTON, February 10, 2023 – The finals of the Snowshoe Pacing Series and Blizzard Pacing Series took top billing on Friday’s 11-race card at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Camara Moment completed a sweep of the Snowshoe with a 2 ¼ length score in 1:54.2. Doug McNair guided the four-year-old gelding to victory for trainer Richard Moreau.
Sent off at 2/5, Camara Moment and McNair sat on the outside around the first turn while pushing towards the lead. The heavy-favourite touched down on top racing to the half, leading by the middle station in :57 and three-quarters in 1:26.3.
Camara Moment scooted home in :28 to secure his fourth win in five starts this season, taking home the winner’s share of the $38,600 purse. Emmetts Buddy finished second, while Last Beach was third.
The Snowshoe sweep gives Camara Moment $53,050 earned this season and brings his career totals to nine wins and over $119,000 earned. The four-year-old gelding is owned by Mickey Sauder, Brenton Harris and James Borke.
Camara Moment paid $2.80 to win.
After close calls in the preliminary legs, Chedda Chedda shot up the rail to win the $35,000 Blizzard final. Louis-Philippe Roy guided the Chantal Mitchell trained three-year-old filly to victory.
Chedda Chedda made the front just after an opening-quarter of :27.2 before 2/5 favourite Shesasharpshooter circled back around to command. The heavy favourite led by the middle poles in :56.2 and 1:25.1. In the stretch, Shesasharpshooter put away first-up challenger Music Box Noise, but couldn’t fight off Chedda Chedda up the rail, who prevailed by a neck in 1:55.1.
Music Box Noise settled for third.
A daughter of Betterthancheddar, Chedda Chedda is now two for five this season after winning one of eight as a rookie. The Mitchell trainee increased her seasonal earnings to $33,332 and career bankroll to $48,762 for owners Decision Theory Inc.
Chedda Chedda paid $20 to win.
The Snowshoe and Blizzard (fillies and mares) were open to non-winners of two races or $30,000 lifetime as of October 31, 2022.
Also on Friday, O’Brien Award winner So Much More returned to her winning ways in the $30,000 Mares Preferred. The seven-year-old mare and driver James MacDonald moved to the lead in the second-quarter and never looked back for a 1:53.3 victory over four rivals.
Western Wish finished second, while Need To Breathe was third.
Friday’s win was the first triumph in three starts this season for So Much More. The Don Beatson trainee won 16 of 35 starts and earned over $427,000 last season for owners Don Beatson, Ken Beatson and Cole England.
So Much More is now a 58-time winner with over $1.2 million earned.
Live racing continues Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7 p.m.
Mark McKelvie