So Much More up in time

So Much More (Big Jim) snatched the $36,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred in a harness racing photo finish over Huntress on Friday (Dec. 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

James MacDonald put the reigning Older Pacing Mare of the Year in play from post nine, and she hiked wide around the first turn to take over before the quarter in :26.3. Huntress (Sylvain Filion) followed her around the bend and pulled in front on the backstretch, immediately having to deal with the advancing Dabarndawgswatchin (Jody Jamieson).

Huntress retained command over Dabarndawgswatching through the midway point in :54.3 and to three-quarters in 1:22.4. So Much More, who had front-row seats to that battle, slid out as Dabarndawgswatchin began to fade. Huntress proved tough and held her lead into the last 1/16th of a mile, but So Much More delivered a final thrust to get her head in front at the wire in 1:50.1.

Huntress collected the place cheque for her brave effort. Shes Got It All (Scott Young) led the rest home to take third.

SO MUCH MORE REPLAY

So Much More’s win was her 69th in 157 lifetime outings. The seven-year-old has been a juggernaut of the Fillies and Mares Preferred ranks since she graduated to the top level in 2020. She won the O’Brien Award for Older Pacing Mare that year and last season, when she won 16 times finished a close third in the Breeders Crown. She has been nominated for the honour again this year. Don Beatson trains and co-owns her with Ken Beatson of Palgrave and Cole England of Exeter. The mare’s bankroll is now $1,566,827.

The card kicked off with a match race of mystical proportions as Santa Claus took on The Grinch. Santa went forward to take the lead from a gentlemen’s start, but The Grinch swooped by him on the backstretch and tore away.

Urging as if he had all the presents of Whoville in his sleigh, The Grinch carried a loose lead into the far turn. Santa channeled the spirit of Christmas at the top of the stretch, and his red-blinkered steed ensured he would go down in history by rolling by The Grinch in the final strides for the festive victory.

SANTA CLAUS VS. THE GRINCH REPLAY

MacDonald won three races on the evening, widening his cushion in the national drivers’ standings to 10 wins.

Woodbine Mohawk Park will close out the week with an 11-race card on Saturday, Dec. 23 featuring a $36,000 Preferred Pace.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink