Warrawee Koine converted off a perfect pocket trip to score a mild upset in Monday’s $54,400 final of the Ontario Sired Spring Series for three-year-old pacing fillies at Mohawk Racetrack.

With Mike Saftic at the controls, the daughter of Astreos – My Gal Hall left sharply to grab the early lead and took the field through a first panel of :28 seconds before yielding in the second quarter to the heavily favoured Brooklyns Best in rein to Jody Jamieson.

The top pair remained in that order past the half in :56.4 and three-quarters in 1:25.1 but as they turned for home, Warrawee Koine tipped out from the two-hole to challenge the pacesetter.

It took the length of the stretch but Warrawee Koine finally prevailed by half a length at the finish over Brooklyns Best with round-two winner Ashtreos finishing another two lengths back in third.

“She’s a quality mare and you could tell that after by the first couple of starts,” said driver Mike Saftic. “She had a little time off after the last series [Silver Reign Pacing Series], and with the weather change she had a little bit of a tieing up problem. I thought she was better last week; I was a little concerned because I got fractions the way I wanted them but she came up a little stale. It was just her first start over this track, and she bounced back today.”

The 1:53.1 effort was the fifth win in seven starts this season for Warrawee Koine who won four straight to start off her campaign. Gregg McNair does the training for owner Dr. Michael Wilson of Rockwood, Ontario.

The lion’s share of the purse boosted her earnings to just over $84,000. Earlier this Spring, Warrawee Koine captured the $45,800 final of the Silver Reign Series at Woodbine Racetrack.

(courtesy Standardbred Canada & WEG)