Illinoisan filly repeats in Niagara Series

Fox Valley Tessa (Time To Roll) remained undefeated on Canadian soil as the Illinoisan harness racing filly won her second straight Niagara Series leg at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday (Dec. 13).

The filly, a champion in her home state this year, was victorious in her Canadian debut last week after shipping north with new connections, trainer Amy Husted and driver Kyle Husted.

She reversed her strategy in the second leg two division on Friday, sliding back to seventh from post two as Miss Dutton (Louis-Philippe Roy) grabbed command in a :27.2 first quarter. Kyle Husted quickly put Fox Valley Tessa into play, sending her out uncovered before the half in :57.1

The filly marched to the front, overtaking leader Always B Merry (James MacDonald) on the way to three-quarters in 1:25.4. The top two edged away from the rest in the stretch drive and were both all-out to the line. Despite a late thrust from Always B Merry, Fox Valley Tessa hung on to prevail by a neck in 1:53.4.

Always B Merry finished a hard-fought second. Miss Dutton was third.

FOX VALLEY TESSA REPLAY

Fox Valley Tessa is now four-for-21 lifetime with $183,368 in the bank. She won the Plum Peachy on Nov. 9 to become Illinois’s champion three-year-old pacing filly, which led partners Husted Racing, John Schwarz, Wilson Rigg, and Scott Rigg to purchase her. After another start in the United States, she came to Canada on Dec. 6 and captured the Niagara Series first leg, giving Kyle Husted his 1,000th training win. He said before the race the connections had this series in mind when making the acquisition.

Oh A Legend (Bit Of A Legend N) also doubled up in the series as she took the first split. The filly was fifth from the first turn to the final turn, when Tyler Borth pulled her off the rail to begin her charge. She drifted wide and turned on the jets in the lane, rocketing from fifth to first in the last eighth of a mile to win in 1:53.

She was a length-and-a-half clear of place finisher Mikki Six (MacDonald). Mother Mary (Roy) rounded out the triactor.

OH A LEGEND REPLAY

The Chris Bush-trained Oh A Legend has now won four straight races, increasing her lifetime totals to six victories and $67,691 in earnings in 21 appearances. Bush shares ownership with Bernie Klacer.

Fox Valley Tessa and Oh A Legend are set to battle in the $30,000A Niagara Series final on Dec. 26.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 7:10 p.m. EST with a 12-race card featuring a Preferred Pace.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink