Late rallies set the stage for Milton final

MILTON, September 10, 2022 – Flashy final-quarters told the story of Saturday evening’s (Sep. 10) Milton Stakes harness racing eliminations at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Grace Hill (Always B Miki) paced a :25.1 last-quarter to sweep rivals in the first $35,000 elimination, while Test Of Faith rocketed home in :25.4 to edge rivals in the second split.

The first elimination saw Voelz Delight push forward and battle up to the lead at a :27.1 opening-quarter. The leader would get a :29.3 second-quarter breather before pacing a :27.2 third-quarter.

In the stretch, Voelz Delight would be swarmed by rivals from all angles, including a flying Grace Hill on the far outside for driver Doug McNair, reaching up for a 1:50.1 victory.

Amazing Dream N finished second off a two-hole trip, while Gias Surreal was third. Watch Me Now N and Fire Start Hanover completed the top-five, while Voelz Delight dropped back and missed the final by finishing sixth.

A four-year-old mare, Grace Hill recently was moved to the barn of Virgil Morgan Jr by owner Tom Hill and came into the Milton elimination off an Open victory at Scioto.

“Tom Hill called me during the week and I’ve drove a lot for him in the past,” said McNair post-race about picking up the drive behind Grace Hill. “(Morgan Jr.) told me she could race either way…I decided not to leave and when I saw the slow half I thought I really didn’t have a shot at winning.

“Halfway around the last turn I was hoping she would be able to pace around one of them to make the final, but I knew she had a big turn of foot, I just didn’t know it was that big, she kind of went by them pretty easy.”

Saturday’s victory improves Grace Hill to four wins in 15 starts this season, while boosting her career numbers to 15 wins and over $850,000 earned. She paid $5.80 to win.

Test Of Faith (Art Major), the reigning US Horse of the Year, shot from second-over to defeat game rivals Mikala and So Much More in 1:48.2.

Local favourite So Much More was forced to work hard in the early-stages to grab the lead at :26.1 opening-quarter. After leading by the half in :54.4, So Much More was confronted on the far turn by a chagrining Mikala. The mares went toe-to-toe by three-quarters in 1:22.1.

Meanwhile, the Brett Pelling trained Test Of Faith angled out from fifth for driver David Miller and followed Mikala’s path to sit just a couple of lengths from the lead turning for home.

In the stretch, the standout mares would sprint home strongly with Test Of Faith powering by on the outside for a half length score. Mikala edged So Much More for second.

Easy To Please and Dabarndawgswatchin rounded out the top-five.

A four-year-old mare, Test Of Faith entered Saturday’s contest off a runner-up performance in an overnight at Harrah’s Philadelphia.

“We actually had a tough run last week in Philly,” said Pelling. “I wasn’t 100 per cent sure if we’d have eliminations here and I wanted to give her a run and I actually had a back off week this week, so I’m hoping with a nice trip like that and the way she flashed home, I’m hoping she’ll be even better next week.”

Test Of Faith has now won seven of 13 starts this season, while finishing in the runner-up spot five-times. The four-year-old pacing mare now has 29 career wins and is nearing $2.1 million in earnings for owners Melvin Segal, Kentuckiana Racing Stable and Eddie Gran.

A $2 win ticket on Test Of Faith returned $2.60.

Elimination winners Grace Hill and Test Of Faith earned their connections the opportunity to select their posts for next week’s $230,000 final.

The Milton Stakes final will take place next Saturday (September 17).

1 – So Much More (Big Jim)
​2 – Mikala (Always B Miki)
​3 – Grace Hill (Always B Miki)
​4 – Test Of Faith (Art Major)
​5 – Amazing Dream N (Bettors Delight)
​6 – Watch Me Now N (Hes Watching)
​7 – Dabarndawgswatchin (Hes Watching)
​8 – Fire Start Hanover (Somebeachsomewhere)
​9 – Easy To Please (Roll With Joe)
​10 – Gias Surreal (So Surreal)
​AE – Classicist (Captaintreacherous)

For complete race results, click here.

by Heather MacKay, for Woodbine Communications