Fastest two-year-old of the year in $95,000 Gold

Step aside, Papi Grad.

Chantilly (Big Jim) set the fastest time for a two-year-old in North America this harness racing season in her $95,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division on Tuesday (Jul. 16) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

She slotted in fifth from post seven in a :27.4 first quarter for James MacDonald and stayed stuck to the pylons until pulling out to commence a first-over advance nearing the half in :56.4.

The filly surged onto the scene coming around the final turn and overwhelmed Wicked N Single (Jonathan Drury) at three-quarters in 1:23.4. Chantilly strode two-and-a-half lengths clear coming down the stretch and maintained that advantage to the line to win in 1:50.4.

Perfectly Chic (Bob McClure) came home second over Wicked N Single in third.

CHANTILLY REPLAY

Chantilly’s time displaced Papi Grad and Railroad Station as the fastest two-year-old(s) of the year. Papi Grad, a filly, won in 1:51.1 at both Pocono Downs and The Meadows. The colt Railroad Station set the same time at Pocono.

Chantilly is undefeated in two starts. The Nick Gallucci-trained filly started out in the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots, crushing in 1:54 on debut. The Millar Farms homebred has now earned $57,500.

In the first division, Wickedpace (McWicked) won her second straight Gold leg. After taking the front for Jody Jamieson, she sat the pocket behind Millie May Hanover (Sylvain Filion) until shifting out for the stretch duel. Wickedpace dispatched the former leader in the final eighth of a mile and went a length clear for the victory in 1:53.2.

Millie May Hanover was clear in second with Darlenes Angel (Trevor Henry) third.

WICKEDPACE REPLAY

Wickedpace is now three-for-four with $107,000 in earnings for trainer Paul Cameron. The filly has won both Gold legs and took a 1:52.3 mark last out. Cameron co-owns the two-year-old with Jayme Cameron and Arnolds Horse Shack of Mississauga.

Also on the card was the first OSS Grassroots leg for two-year-old trotting fillies. The winners were:

• Th Monica (Green Manalishi S, MacDonald) by six-and-a-half lengths in 1:57.3 for trainer Francis Dumouchel. Eartha K (McClure) second, Banks A Million (Henry) third.
• Sister Sara (Green Manalishi S, Doug McNair) by three-quarters-of-a-length in 1:58.4 for trainer Blake Macintosh. Ivy Lynn (Filion) second, Show Me The Green (Henry) third. Triactor sweep for sire Green Manalishi.
• Cheeky Lass (Muscle Mass, Sylvain Filion) by a neck in 1:59.1 for trainer Scott Mceneny. Rich Girl (McClure) second, Ibelieveinangels (Travis Cullen) third.
• Foxy Amee (Muscle Mass) by a length-and-a-half in 1:58.1 for trainer/driver Paul MacDonell. Royal Sauce (Doug McNair) second, Ms Kirsi (Jody Jamieson) third. Triactor sweep for sire Muscle Mass.

Racing will continue at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday, Jul. 18 at 7:10 p.m. EDT. The card will feature the first legs of the Millard Farms, for two-year-old trotting males, and the Pure Ivory, for two-year-old trotting fillies.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink