There's an excellent chance a Quebec-owned filly will win the $466,000 Peaceful Way Stakes at Mohawk

on Saturday.

All three of last week's elimination winners had Quebec ownership, as did one runner-up. Among the prime contenders is Intense America, a Taurus Dream filly owned by Montreal fruit-and-vegetable whosesaler Gaetan Bono. She looked nothing like a 20-1 shot in capturing her elimination by four lengths in 1:56.4 in just her second lifetime start.

"I think she has a bright future. I've been waiting for a nice filly a long time and I hope it's her," said Bono, who's been buying racehorses for more than 20 years.

He acquired Intense America and two other Taurus Dream two-year-olds in a private deal three months ago from owner/breeder Jean-Pierre Dubois's Ecurie Reve Avec Moi, which also has a Peaceful Way finalist of its own in Crys Dream - another Taurus Dream. Dubois had sent the three horses to trainer Normand Bardier Jr., who also trains for Bono.

The purchase was a bit of a gamble, since the horses were Quebec-breds and there were no sires stakes for them, but Bardier was very high on Intense America, Bono said. "We know she has the potential to be a top one."

As for Taurus Dream, he'll be exiting Quebec a second time and standing at stud in Ontario next year, sources said.

Intense America has post 5 in Saturday's Peaceful Way final. With Sylvain Filion opting to drive elim winner Martiniontherocks, harness racing's leading money winning driver Tim Tetrick gets the call on Intense America.

(A Trot Insider exclusive by Paul Delean)