Two-year-old pacing filly Chantilly wrapped up an undefeated season in style by winning her $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a sparkling 1:50 2/5.
Driven by James MacDonald, Chantilly was positioned fourth at the 26 second opening quarter, but MacDonald sent her to the outside in the backstretch, and she drove on past Macapelo Seelster (Tyler Borth) beyond the 55 4/5 half. Chantilly got separation on the rest of the field on the way to the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters and cruised to a 6 1/2 length victory over Wickedpace (Jody Jamieson). Macapelo Seelster held third.
"She goes miles in 1:50 like training trips," said MacDonald after the race.
Bred by owner Millar Farms, the Nick Gallucci-trained Chantilly has earned C$761,000. The daughter of Big Jim paid $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.
"She's not paid up for the Breeders Crown," Gallucci said, adding that it was always the plan looking forward to a sophomore season.
"She'll appreciate the rest," he added. "She's the best filly ever that I've trained and we're grateful to have her in our barn."
MacDonald also won the Super Final for 3-year-old filly trotters with Willys Home Run (by Archangel, bred by co-owner Reg Higgs, paid $4.30 to win) in 1:53 1/5 for trainer Kyle Fellows and co-owners Dr. Sara Gatchell, Jake Higgs and Yolanda Fellows.
Another big name to win a Super Final was Pepsi North America Cup champion Nijinsky in the sophomore colt and gelding pace. Unrivaled Hanover (Jonathan Drury) led the way through stations of 26 1/5, 54 and 1:21 2/5 at odds of 69-1, but Nijinsky, who went three-wide from second-over on the final bend, was able to get by to take the lead in the lane. From there, Nijinsky held off fellow Tony Beaton trainee Best Night Ever (Trevor Henry) by a length in 1:50 3/5 while Unrivaled Hanover wound up third.
"I had no choice but to go three-wide on the last turn," said Roy. "JD's [Jonathan Drury's] horse was making open lengths on us, so I had to make him work a little earlier. At first, JD was going good fractions up front; the only way I could have him beat was to put him into a crazy half."
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A son of Bettor's Delight bred by Jeff Snyder, Nijinsky is trained by Beaton for owners West Wins Stable, John Fielding and Mark Dumain. This was his 11th win from 22 career starts, he has earned C$1,347,582 and returned $2.50 to win as the 1-9 choice.
"I was worried that something was going to happen, but he seemed fine and Louis said he was great," said Beaton. "I wish we had a little easier trip, but he raced tremendous. It seems like he's back, and hopefully we can look forward to the Meadowlands (for the Breeders Crown eliminations) next week."
Drivers Doug McNair and Sylvain Filion also won two Super Finals. McNair bagged the 2-year-old filly trot with Lil Sweet (by Green Manalishi, bred by Windsong Stable, paid $8.40 to win) in 1:53 4/5 for trainer Dave Menary and owner Eric Good and the 2-year-old male pace with Crack Shot (by Bettor's Delight, bred by Jim Avritt Sr., paid $7.40 to win) in 1:51 3/5 for co-owner/trainer Gregg McNair and co-owners Dale Hunter, Frank Brundle and George Kerr.
Filion was victorious in the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot with You Got It Kemp (by Muscle Mass, bred by co-owner Suojalampi Stable Inc. with Kemppi Stables Oy Inc., paid $4.50 to win) in 1:53 4/5 for co-owner/trainer Dan Lagace and co-owners Brady and Brooke Lagace and in the 3-year-old filly pace with Odds On Platinum (by Bettor's Delight, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, paid $8.90 to win) in 1:49 4/5 for trainer Dr. Ian Moore and owners Let It Ride Stables Inc. and Odds On Racing.
The 3-year-old colt and gelding trot went to Paquet (by Muscle Mass and bred by Seelster Farms Inc., paid $2.40 to win) in 1:54 3/5) for driver Jody Jamieson, co-owner/trainer Carl Jamieson and co-owners Estate of Brian Paquet, 1140545 Ontario Ltd. and Douglas Good.
--quotes by the Ontario Sires Stakes--