Stakes record performance in $390,000 Peaceful Way

MILTON, August 24, 2024 – Monalishi (Green Manalishi S-Pretty Phylly G), in rein to James MacDonald, rocketed home in record fashion to win a thrilling renewal of the $390,000 Peaceful Way harness racing final, Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The trot for rookie fillies saw Royal Mission blast off the wings to take the early lead, as Margareta Hanover crossed over from post nine to sit second on the outside, with Champagne Problems and R Charm tucked in along the rail in third and fourth, respectively. Monalishi, sent off at 11-1, was settled into eighth spot in the 10-horse field through a lively opening quarter in :27.1.

A swift move from driver Dexter Dunn had even-money choice Champagne Problems in the lead by a half-length over Margareta Hanover at the half in :55.3. MacDonald kept a patient hand on Monalishi, who remained eighth.

The action continued as R Dutchess came calling ahead of the turn for home, as Champagne Problems braced for the challenge of the daughter of Father Patrick, as well as Lasting Dream, who was gathering momentum just before the three-quarter juncture reached in 1:23.3.

Lasting Dream found the front in the late going, but was unable to fend off Monalishi, who got up to post a half-length score in a stakes record 1:52.2. R Dutchess was third and Champagne Problems finished fourth.

“She showed lots of early speed, and I was going to try and let her do what she likes,” said MacDonald, who was in the race bike of the brown filly for the first time. “Leaving the gate, everyone was barreling out of there and I had to kind of call an audible.”

MONALISHI REPLAY

It would prove to be the perfect game plan.

“I said to Blake [trainer, MacIntosh] that she is so nice to drive,” said MacDonald. “She just kind of rode lightly on the line the whole way and turning for home she was on the bit, but not raging. I said, ‘Maybe, we will get a chunk.’ Every time I asked her, she just gave me a little more and a little more, and then halfway down the lane, she really kicked into gear. I was pretty confident she was going to get there.”

MacIntosh, who co-owns the rookie trotter with Tim Klemencic, was elated with the electrifying effort engineered by MacDonald and the filly, who came into the final off a second in her Peaceful Way elimination last Saturday.

The Aug. 17 runner-up result stung MacIntosh.

“I just wasn’t happy that she got beat. I thought she was the best in there last week. We put her on the front and she’s just not as good on the front. She is better chasing horses. It just didn’t work out last week.”

It worked to perfection this time for the filly bred by Shmuel Farhi.

“You always hope that [they work out],” said MacIntosh, of the $28,000 purchase (Hip #643) at the 2023 Harrisburg Yearling Sale. “But you never know. I can tell you in the wintertime that we thought we had two better than her. And she has just turned into a great horse. We are really happy with her.”

Monalishi, now 4-1-0 from six starts, paid $24.90 for the win.

The Peaceful Way is named for one of the most talented trotting fillies ever bred in Ontario who earned more than $3.2 million during her stellar career and was inducted into the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame in 2008. One year earlier, shortly after Peaceful Way’s retirement, Woodbine Entertainment announced they had renamed the Oakville Stakes (an event she won handily in her two-year-old career) in her honour.

For complete race results, click here.

by Chris Lomon, for Woodbine Entertainment