Trainer Linda Rice swept the top four places in the $83,250 Mechanicville Stakes on Monday at Saratoga Race Course as Ahvee’s Destiny reeled in pacesetting stablemate Canadian Ballet to prevail by a head.

Rice said the Mechanicville was the first race in which she saddled four contenders. She saddled the top three finishers—Canadian Ballet, Sweet Bama Breeze, and Noble Fire—in the New York Stallion Fifth Avenue Stakes on November 11, 2007, at Aqueduct.

Rice trainees Silver Timber and Karakorum Elektra finished third and fourth, respectively, in 5 1/2-furlong Mechanicville.

“People kind of joked about it, but I thought it was more wishful thinking,” Rice said of sweeping the top four spots. “It sure feels good.

“Actually, I thought Ahvee’s Destiny had a good chance. I know she was coming back on short rest after her win at Monmouth, but I just felt she was really on top of her game.”

Ahvee’s Destiny entered off a 2 3/4-length victory in a 5 1/2-furlong allowance/optional claiming race on the turf at Monmouth Park on August 8.

Sent off at 9.30-to-1 odds, the four-year-old Rizzi filly stalked Canadian Ballet, challenged for the lead near the sixteenth pole, and nipped her determined stablemate in the final strides to prevail in 1:02.72 on firm turf. She improved to six wins from 16 career starts and earned her first stakes victory for owner Everything Cricket Racing..

Canadian Ballet, sent off at 12.50-to-1 finished a half-length in front of 7-to-2 second choice Silver Timber. Karakorum Elektra was another three-quarters of a length back in fourth.

“I’m surprised at the prices on these horses,” Rice said. “I thought they’d be a little better-regarded, but they were all training well and I thought they all had a chance to win.”
(Source: Thoroughbred Times)