O’Brien Award-nominated mare Hp Mama B (Royalty For Life) ended her winless run with her first harness racing victory of the season after 14 consecutive losses at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday (Aug. 26).
Driver Louis-Philippe Roy took advantage of the mare’s early speed, guiding her from post seven to the lead by the quarter in :27. She maintained control unchallenged through the half in :55.1, then widened her advantage to three-and-a-quarter lengths by three-quarters in 1:23.2. Hp Mama * stayed strong down the stretch, trotting home in 1:52.2 for a decisive win.
Sparks Fly (Ed Hensley) closed late to take second, finishing two-and-a-quarter lengths behind, while New Rules (Trevor Henry) made a strong move from the backfield to finish a close third.
Hp Mama B, a two-time O’Brien Award finalist, has now won 23 of 87 career starts and amassed $839,057 in earnings. Though she placed third in last year’s Breeders Crown, she had struggled this season, hitting the board only three times in 14 starts. Her last victory came in her second-to-last race of 2023. Benoit Baillargeon conditions the six-year-old mare for owners Guylaine Picard of Guelph and Celine Paquin of Orford.
The card also featured a victory by former Ontario Sires Stakes champion Pemberton (Wheeling N Dealin, Bob McClure). Positioned third until the stretch, the gelding moved out, overtook the loose leader Pretender (James MacDonald), and surged ahead to win by four-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:52. Distance Learning (Tyler Borth) and Ricky Resolve (Jonathan Drury) closed well to finish second and third, respectively.
Pemberton, who has raced in the Preferred ranks for much of the year, is now four-for-11 this season for trainer Paul Walker. Dropping into conditioned company, he’s won two of his last three races. The seven-year-old gelding has 18 career wins in 50 starts and earnings of $579,299 for owners Brenda and Christine Walker.
Woodbine Mohawk Park’s next race card is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 27, with a first post time of 7:10 p.m. EDT.