Millionaire pacing mares Prohibition Legal and Silver Label swept the top two spots in the $36,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace once again for trainer Nick Gallucci, this time on a blustery winter-like Saturday night, Dec. 7 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The award-winning Millar Farms homebreds were 1-2 for the fifth time this year in Mohawk's top distaff class, with Prohibition Legal winning over her stablemate for her third seasonal victory.

Prohibition Legal quickly crossed to command from the outside post six for driver Louis-Philippe Roy with Huntress (Bob McClure) leaving to their inside for pocket position over inside starter Dabarndawgswatchin (Trevor Henry) while Silver Label (James MacDonald) landed in fourth. Prohibition Legal led through a :28.2 opening quarter before Dabarndawgswatchin swept to command and fronted the field of top distaffers through a half in :57.1. 

As the mares headed into the final turn, Silver Label moved underway flushing Prohibition Legal, who took on Dabarndawgswatchin as they raced by three-quarters in 1:27.4. Down the stretch, Prohibition Legal forged ahead and won by 2-1/4-lengths in 1:52 flat over the track rated two seconds off, with Silver Label closing for second and Dabarndawgswatchin settling for third behind the Gallucci gals.

Sent postward as the 9-5 second choice, Prohibition Legal paid $4.90 to win and combined with her 4-5 favoured stablemate Silver Label for a $9.30 exactor.

A five-year-old Big Jim mare out of Catch A Wish, Prohibition Legal earned his 13th career win from 39 starts and boosted her bankroll over $1.1 million.

Earlier on the card, the Valedictory Pacing Series for three-year-old colts kicked off with a 40-1 shocker as Gino Toscani's Southwind Infusion nosed out the popular mid-race leader Brudon in a photo finish, producing a $82.70 win payout. Jody Jamieson picked up the catch-drive on the winning Always B Miki-Southwind Inertia gelding for trainer Ashley Lendvoy and tracked in fourth through fractions of :27.3, :55.4 and 1:24.3 before sprinting home in :27.4 over the 'good' going to spring the upset in 1:53.2. Southwind Infusion, who hadn't raced in a month, earned his sixth win in 28 starts during his debut season. He ended the streak of Brudon (James MacDonald), who swept the Harvest Series last month, while Gandalf The Bay (Trevor Henry) finished more than two lengths behind in third after a first-quarter appearance on the front.

Bettors who had a win ticket on 5-1 shot Lotto Max cashed for $12.60 after driver Louis-Philippe Roy sent the Bettors Delight-My Lotto gelding wire-to-wire, setting fractions of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:28.1 en route to the 1:57 victory. Trainer Dale Fritz and Edward Acheson co-own Lotto Max, a two-time winner in 18 starts after going unraced at two. Coming off a runner-up finish in the Harvest Series two weeks ago, Lotto Max held off the late charge from the Lendvoy trainee Betthebeach Yankee (Daryl Thiessen) by three-quarters of a length, with JMR Speak Away (Jonathan Drury) inheriting third after Wallace Hartley (Tyler Borth) was placed for causing interference in the stretch when searching for racing room.

The Valedictory Series is for non-winners of $60,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2024. The second leg will be contested next Saturday, Dec. 14 with the $30,000 added final scheduled for the Boxing Day card on Thursday, Dec. 26 at Mohawk.

Following up a milestone night at Mohawk on Friday when he reached the 2,000-win mark, driver Tyler Borth went to work on his next milestone as he racked up five more wins on Saturday. Borth kicked off the 12-race program winning with Mystifying ($7) for trainer Susie Kerwood and added victories with Magical Arthur ($14.60) for Shawn Steacy and Lamborghini Lou ($5) for Paul MacKenzie before sweeping the late Daily Double driving the Victor Puddy-trained Livinthebeachlife ($3.50) in a dead heat win and Ulysses ($12.70) for the Kyle Fellows stable. 

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)