MILTON, August 16, 2018 – The Pure Ivory and Define The World Series resumed Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The second-leg of each event saw a single $14,000 divisions with six competitors. The Pure Ivory for fillies did not feature round one winner Dark As A Pocket, while Smart As Hill was attempting to repeat his first-leg score. Mark Steacy trainee Minor Obsession was a front-end winner in her Pure Ivory Series debut. The daughter of Muscle Mass and driver James MacDonald floated away before trotting on to secure the front entering the first-turn. Minor Obsession hung up fractions of :29.4, 1:02.1 and 1:32.2 before stepping home in :28 for a 2:00.2 victory. Grimmie Hanover finished a length and a quarter back in second, while Angel For Life was third. A $17,500 Goshen Yearling Sale purchase, Minor Obsession picked up her first-career victory in her third start Thursday. The Steacy trainee finished second in her debut on July 26 at Woodbine Mohawk Park before finishing sixth in a New York Sires Stakes leg on August 3 at Tioga Downs. Minor Obsession pushes her earnings to $10,500 for owners Mark Steacy and Salt Hill Farm Limited. She paid $5.10 to win. Smart As Hill may have won the first leg of the Define The World, but the Mike Keeling trainee didn’t receive much respect at the windows and went off at odds of 10/1. Royal Rob entered Thursday’s second leg undefeated in two starts, which included an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division score. The Bob McIntosh trainee was the talk of the toteboard at 1/5, but unfortunately for his connections made a break after the start. Steuben Hanover, who got nailed at the wire by Smart As Hill in round one, went off as the 3/1 second-choice. The Luc Blais trainee made a break at three-quarters when moving on the outside from fourth. Meanwhile, Smart As Hill and driver Roger Mayotte enjoyed a perfect two-hole trip behind Cesar Duharas, who posted fractions of :30, 1:00.2 and 1:30.4. Mayotte angled Smart As Hill from the two-hole just before three-quarters and proceeded to trot by the leader and go on to a 1:59 victory. Blazing Trail finished a length back in second, while Cesar Duharas was third. A son of Muscle Hill, Smart As Hill improved to two for four with his second leg score and will now have an opportunity at a series sweep. The Keeling trainee was a $70,000 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale purchase. Smart As Hill has earned $19,180 in four starts for owners Dreamville Stable and Harbor Racing Stable LLC. He paid $23.30 to win. The finals of the Pure Ivory and Define The World will take place next Thursday (August 23). Live racing continues Friday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:10 p.m. Share This:Share
