One of Canada’s best pacing mares in recent years, So Much More (Big Jim) took a big step forward as she took the conditioned harness racing feature at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday (Oct. 25) to complete a five-win night for driver Tyler Borth.
Borth left the defending O’Brien Award winner out for the drive, pushing her forward first-over through :27.1, :55.1, and 1:23.2 panels. The mare chipped away at Kellina Diamond (Todd Ratchford) around the last turn and into the stretch, kicking off a final-quarter battle. The two traded blows down the lane, and the defiant So Much More got up in the final meters to win by a neck in 1:51.4. Style For A Mile (Tyler Jones) closed for third.
SO MUCH MORE REPLAY
So Much More, a 74-time career winner with $1.6 million in earnings, is yet to win a top-class race this season. The three-time O’Brien Award recipient captured the Forest City Pace in May for trainer Don Beatson and is four-for-20 on the year. She dropped to the low-level conditions last week and returned to form with a hard-fought victory and stepped up in Friday’s win. Beatson co-owns the eight-year-old with Ken Beatson and Cole England.
Borth also own the card opener with Sorcha Seelster (All Bets Off, 1:51.1), third with Cleveland Massimo (Muscle Mass, 1:56), Wheelin My Bentley (Wheeling N Dealin, 1:56.3), and Bronzer (Muscle Hill, 1:55.1). The reinsman is striking at a 13.7 per cent rate this season with 238 wins and $3.6 million in earnings.
Racing continues on Saturday (Oct. 26) with an 11-race card featuring a Preferred-Handicap.
For complete race results, click here.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink