Casual Breeze to Amazone Du Haras and HP Mama B
At 0h24, on September 4, 2021 • By Contributed by Standardbred Canada
First-time stakes winner Amazone Duharas and Ontario Sires Stakes standout HP Mama B were the Grand Circuit stars on Friday night (September 3) at Woodbine Mohawk, topping a pair of $75,400 Casual Breeze Stakes divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies.
Amazone Duharas defeated 6-5 favourite Hawaii in the first division, winning in 1:53.4 with Louis-Philippe Roy aboard for trainer Denis Gueriel.
Roy left with Amazone Duharas from the outside post seven and crossed to command in front of Hawaii (Rick Zeron) as they raced into the first turn. She clocked a :27.4 opening quarter before Hawaii looped to the lead and put up middle splits of :57.2 and 1:25.4.
Hawaii opened up a three-length lead heading down the stretch, but Amazone Duharas kicked into action and surged by that rival late to win by one length in a career-best mile, with a last quarter clocked in :27.3.
Owned and bred by Haras De L Estrie Inc. of Dunham, Que., the Muscle Hill-Cleopatre Duharas filly has been improving with every start. Winless in four added-money events as a freshman, she has now won three of her seven races this year.
HP Mama B was also a 1:53.4 winner, with Sylvain Filion sending the 6-5 favourite down the road in the second division.
HP Mama B and 9-5 second choice Imextraspecial (Trevor Henry) left together down the center of the racetrack from posts five and six, respectively, with the favoured filly first to the quarter in a quick :26.3. Imextraspecial filled the pocket position when O’Brien Award champion Donna Soprano (Bob McClure), the 2-1 third choice, broke stride in the first turn.
A second quarter breather was key for HP Mama B, who reached the half in :57.1 and trotted on to three-quarters in 1:26 before sealing the deal with a :27.4 final frame.
The Royalty For Life-Winters Jewel filly won half of her eight starts as a freshman including the OSS Grassroots Championship and she has earned a 6-2-1 record from nine starts this year while pushing her career bankroll to $333,987 for owners Guylaine Picard of Guelph, Ont., and Celine Paquin of Ayers Cliff, Que.
