American Virgin rebounded after making a rare miscue in last week's $34,000 Preferred Pace, closing from last to reel in defending champion Nickle Bag in the Saturday night special on February 25 at Woodbine Racetrack.
Nickle Bag (Trevor Henry), the 8-5 second choice, was on the move during the :27.3 first quarter and cleared longshot leaver Shadow Place (Jody Jamieson) just past the :55.3 half-mile mark. Alexas Jackpot (Louis-Philippe Roy) was hot on his heels with Fine Diamond (Sylvain Filion) second-over as he continued to lead past three-quarters in 1:23.3. At that point, Woodbine's leading driver Doug McNair launched American Virgin three-wide from the trailing position and the Richard Moreau trainee powered home in :27.3 to collar Nickle Bag at the wire in 1:52 flat. Shadow Place finished third ahead of Alexas Jackpot.
American Virgin, who has hit the board in six of his seven starts this year, paid $4.50 to win as the 6-5 favourite.
With his third win of the year, the five-year-old Always A Virgin gelding took back the top spot in the 2017 Canadian standings for earnings over stablemate Sandbetweenurtoes, pushing his annual income to $72,080 for Woodbine's leading owner Brad Grant of Milton, Ont.
He earned his 17th victory overall, pushing his bankroll to $367,036.
Canada's 2016 Future Star Award winner Louis-Philippe Roy was the driving star of the night, winning half of Saturday's 10 races.
Roy swept the early Daily Double with Pop Goes Theweasel ($11) for trainer Rene Bourassa and Finish Line ($4.20) for Rene Allard. He also drove A Bettors Risk ($7.90) to victory for the Allard stable and helped Moreau to a training double winning with Company Man ($27.30) before closing out the card aboard Erle Dale N ($22.70) for Ron Adams.
The Jackpot Hi-5 carryover in Woodbine's final race climbed past $450,000.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.