Prohibition Legal bests top mares

Prohibition Legal (Big Jim) defeated a field of elite harness racing mares, including Canada’s 2023 Horse of the Year Sylvia Hanover, in the $36,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred on Friday (May 17) at a rain-soaked Woodbine Mohawk Park.

She took a seat third under the guidance of Louis-Philippe Roy and remained in line, as did the rest of the field, through :26.4, :56.3, and 1:24.3 panels set by Tells On A Roll (Travis Cullen).

Prohibition Legal angled out coming off the final turn and kicked home best, soaring by the pacesetter and Silver Label (Doug McNair) to score by a length-and-a-half in 1:51.2.

There was a three-across finish for place. Second was the winner’s stablemate, Silver Label, who won the class last week and placed in the 2023 Breeders Crown. Tells On A Roll, a six-time Preferred winner this season, completed the triactor. Sylvia Hanover (Bob McClure) was a fast-closing fourth in her seasonal debut. Further back in fifth was double O’Brien Award recipient So Much More (James MacDonald).

PROHIBITION LEGAL REPLAY

It was Prohibition Legal’s second start of the year after a fifth-place finish on May 10. She was an Ontario Sires Stakes champion at two and a Breeders Crown finalist at three. She started only five times last year and returned last week after six months away. The Nick Gallucci-trained filly has now won 11 of her 23 lifetime starts and has racked up $984,166 in earnings. Millar Farms of Stouffville owns and bred the five-year-old.

The week-ending card at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday, May 18 will begin at 6:30 p.m. EDT. Alongside racing action will be the track’s annual Fireworks and Family Fun Night with pyrotechnics display at the end of the card.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink