12 Aug 2024, from Standardbred Canada
Driver James MacDonald and trainer Anthony Beaton combined for one of their many wins on Friday, Aug. 9 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with two-year-old pacing filly AU JUS HANOVER (STAY HUNGRY) spoiling the favourite’s chances at a series sweep of the Whenuwishuponastar.
In the $68,000 series final carded as the second race of the evening, MacDonald and AU JUS HANOVER looped early long-shot leader Spoiled Beauty down the backstretch after a :27.2 opening quarter and hit the half in :55.1. As AU JUS HANOVER continued to lead the field of five freshman fillies to three-quarters in 1:23.4, the undefeated 1-9 favourite Cant See Me went on the attack from third but couldn’t catch the Beaton trainee, who won by three-quarters of a length in 1:53 flat. Charlotte Station closed well off cover for third.
AU JUS HANOVER won at first asking on June 29 before hitting the board in the opening legs of the series. Going for her second career victory in the final, she was sent off as the 9-2 second choice and returned $11.40 to win. The STAY HUNGRY-Always True filly was a $50,000 yearling purchase from last year’s Standardbred Horse Sale for owners Casie Coleman of Wellington, Florida, Dumain Haven Farm of Pine Bush, New York, Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont., and Kevin McKinlay of Holland Landing, Ont.
Later in the night, the $81,500 Final of the Dream Maker for two-year-old pacing colts was won by CAPTAINTREACHEROUS on AYEAYE CAPTAIN DEO leading the way over Nova Blu, with newly inducted Hall of Famer Sylvain Filion steering the 1:53 winner. AYEAYE CAPTAIN DEO fronted the field of six through fractions of :27.2, :57 and 1:25.1 before sealing the deal with a :27.4 final frame, while his stablemate Nova Blu, driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, rallied into second and finished 2-3/4 lengths behind.
A winner of the second leg of the series, Ayeaye Captain Deo was sent postward as the 7-2 second choice and paid $9 to win. AYEAYE CAPTAIN DEO, who was $57,000 yearling from the Lexington Selected Sale, has earned back-to-back wins after hitting the board in his first two starts. The Grand Circuit stakes-bound colt by Captaintreacherous out of Oceania has the Nassagaweya and Metro Pace on his radar.
PHOTO: Au Jus Hanover (STAY HUNGRY), New Image Media
