Ariana G strolls in Peaceful Way

CAMPBELLVILLE, ON- Securing the lead after the half, Ariana G advanced towards a 1:54 harness racing victory in the $363,000 Peaceful Way Final on Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

Ariana G sat off a :27.3 opening quarter while Pure Kemp took the lead, parking Dream Together. Thats All Moni began her brush to the lead, getting away third behind Stuck In My Spanks. Clearing into the backstretch, Thats All Moni was challenged by Ariana G, who edged to control after a :56.1 half.

Gaining the lead around the far turn, Ariana G started to kick away from Thats All Moni sitting second. Stuck In My Spanks, Dream Together, and Southwind Avanti all lost stride, leaving Pure Kemp trotting in third and Winter Sweet Frost inheriting fourth. Leading by two lengths, Ariana G trotted to three-quarters in 1:25.1 before pulling away for a 3¼ lengths victory over Thats All Moni and Magic Presto, who trotted down the center of the track to take third.

A two-year-old filly trotter by Muscle Hill out of the Cantab Hall mare Cantab It All, Ariana G is a homebred for Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. Undefeated in seven starts, she has earned $467,370. She is trained by Jimmy Takter and was driven by Yannick Gingras.

"She's just incredible," Gingras said. "From the first time I trained her, she's just a pure professional. She feels like a three-year-old filly and you can do whatever you want with her. Seemed like the move to make today was to the front, and it cost us a little bit but I felt I was the one to beat and I would take my chances from there."

Asked if Ariana G is the best two-year-old filly he has driven, Gingras said "She's pretty close to it, there's no doubt about that. She's very natural and can be driven with two fingers. There's nothing wrong with her; she has the whole package."

"We'll see how she comes out of this," Marvin Katz said about Ariana G's next race. "We'd go to Lexington, all things being equal."

Takter now holds the record for most Peaceful Way victories by a trainer with his fourth title courtesy of Ariana G.

The daughter of Muscle Hill paid $2.10 to win.

Ray Cotolo for WEG Communications