Big Jim filly stays unbeaten in Grassroots division opener

This Magic Moment (Big Jim) won one of four first-leg Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies on Friday (May 24) at Woodbine Mohawk Park to stay perfect on the harness racing season.

James MacDonald ordered a second-quarter brush from the filly, and she held off a host of challengers from the final turn to the finish to win by a length-and-a-quarter in 1:51.2. Pasta Delight (Travis Cullen) headed the closing group over show finisher Make Out With Me (Tyler Borth).

THIS MAGIC MOMENT REPLAY

This Magic Moment took a new lifetime mark with the victory, her fourth in the same number of outings this year. She went 0-for-2 as a rookie with two attempts in OSS Golds. Nick Gallucci trains the Millar Farms homebred who has now earned $49,329.

We Believin (Shadow Play, Bob McClure) broke her maiden rallying from eighth to take the first division in a 40-1 stunner. She was fifth-over rounding the final turn but exploded coming down the stretch, flying past rivals to catch Kiss My Cheek (Jonathan Drury) by a nose in 1:52.1. Suntan City (Borth) was with them in third, missing by a neck.

WE BELIEVIN REPLAY

It was We Believin’s second start of the year. She was winless in four tries at two for Shawn Steacy before moving to trainer Paul Reid for owner Gary Lance. The filly has now won one of six starts and has earned $17,260.

Collusion Hanover (Betters Delight, Louis-Philippe Roy) led from the quarter and hung on by a neck in the third division. She scored in 1:52 with How Much (McClure) in second. Catch My Breath (Doug McNair) completed the ticket.

COLLUSION HANOVER REPLAY

Collusion Hanover won a Grassroots leg at two and was a close third in the Battle of the Belles. She also placed in a Gold-level contest and made the Super Final. Luc Blais trains the filly, now a three-time winner in 13 appearances with a bankroll of $90,229, for Determination.

Greatest Pleasure (Bettors Delight, Roy) rounded out the Grassroots action with her first win of the season. She struck the front just prior to the half and held Bonitas Best Bet (MacDonald) by a length to prevail in 1:52. Rocks Shadow (McClure) secured the show spot.

GREATEST PLEASURE REPLAY

The winner was Grassroots finalist last season and won two legs of the series. The Determination homebred, trained by Blais, is now five-for-13 lifetime and has earned $57,842.

Also on the card, Silver Label (Bettors Delight) defeated reigning Horse of the Year Sylvia Hanover in the $36,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred.

Silver Label grabbed the early lead for McNair but felt the pressure of Sylvia Hanover (McClure) from the half, around the turn, and into the stretch. Sylvia Hanover scratched and clawed but could not come any closer than a length as Silver Label sealed the victory with a 1:49.4 clocking. Angostura Hanover (Trevor Henry) rounded out the triactor. The winner paid $17.60. Silver Label came under scrutiny from the judges for possible interference in the stretch, but the inquiry was dismissed.

SILVER LABEL REPLAY

Silver Label, a 2022 O’Brien Award winner, bolstered her career starts to 22 tallies and $1,406,023 in earnings from 44 starts. She won her seasonal debut on May 10 but lost to Prohibition Legal last week with Sylvia Hanover fourth. Nick Gallucci trains Silver Label, a Millar Farms homebred.

The Woodbine Mohawk Park race week concludes on Saturday, May 25 with a 12-race card featuring the beginning of the OSS Gold series. Three-year-old trotting males of both gaits and pacing fillies will contest their opening legs. First post is set for 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink