Sophomore pacing filly Chantilly, the 2024 Canadian Horse of the Year, improved to a perfect 10-for-10 by winning her three-year-old season debut in the first of four SBOA Stakes for Ontario sired three-year-olds on Saturday, May 17 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A homebred superstar for Millar Farms and trainer Nick Gallucci, Chantilly had to overcome 10 rivals and strong winds to take the top spot in the $133,512 event.

“It’s always less than ideal starting a great horse in crappy weather, but she’s a pro,” said Chantilly’s driver James MacDonald. “When I moved her she exploded and felt like she was going to draw away and then the wind shoved me down and I almost grabbed (Millie May Hanover's) wheel.

“It was some tense moments there, but she’s just a champion…we came unhooked and sometimes they’ll drop the bit after that, but she just jumped forward again.”

Chantilly got away fifth in the opening quarter and was moved to the outside entering the backstretch. MacDonald ultimately just looped one rival and settled back in fourth while the leaders upfront kept things motoring through fractions of :26.4 and :54.3.

Wicked N Single (Louis-Philippe Roy) took the field by three-quarters in 1:22.4 with Chantilly spotted third-over.

In the stretch, Chantilly rocketed off cover into a stiff headwind. The 1-9 favourite would get tight to a striking Millie May Hanover (Doug McNair), before ultimately straightening out and kicking off to win in 1:52.

A daughter of Big Jim, Chantilly went right back to the winner’s circle to start her three-year-old season after going nine-for-nine as a rookie and earning multiple O’Brien Awards.

“She just seems a little bit bigger, little bit stronger,” said trainer Gallucci. “Her hopples are longer, head check longer and just seems maybe she’s improved a little bit in all aspects from last year.”

Chantilly is eligible to the Pepsi North America Cup and is believed to be the first filly ever nominated to Canada’s most prestigious harness race. The date for this year’s Cup is June 14, the same date as the Fan Hanover Stakes for fillies.

“Either way she’s going to be in a big event on that day in June,” said Gallucci. “Right now it’s just week to week just trying to get her as sharp as we can for next week, she’s got an (Ontario Sires Stakes) Gold next Saturday and then we’ll analyze the situation from there.”

The top-four finishers from Saturday’s SBOA Stakes was completed by Millie May Hanover, who was second by half a length, Perfectly Chic (Bob McClure) and Lady Cafe Au Lait (Billy Davis, Jr.)

Chantilly paid $2.10 to win.

Ontario Sires Stakes champion Crack Shot overpowered his rivals to win the $126,912 SBOA Final for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Driven by Doug McNair, Crack Shot was one of several to show early speed and would eventually drop in third coming out of the first turn. The Gregg McNair trainee didn’t sit long and would rush towards the lead, clearing just after a :54.3 first half.

Crack Shot would open up on nearest rival Fifth And Five (Jody Jamieson) at three-quarters and never looked back for a 3-3/4 length victory in 1:51.

Sterling Choice (Davis) finished second, while Boxer Seelster (MacDonald) and Time Passer (J.R. Plante) completed the Superfecta.

A son of Bettors Delight, Crack Shot improved to two-for-two on the season and is now a seven-time winner from 10 starts for owners Gregg McNair, Dale Hunter, Frank Brundle and George KeRr.

Crack Shot’s victory was the latest victory for co-owner Hunter, the head coach of the Ontario Hockey League champion London Knights. The Knights captured their second consecutive OHL title on Thursday.

“It’s been a busy week, but an enjoyable week when you win,” said Hunter. “To win this race and to get to go to the Memorial Cup, I love it. It’s all about sports, that’s what is a joy about it, you don’t know what’s going to happen.”

With the SBOA victory, Crack Shot remains as one of the leading contenders for this year’s Pepsi North America Cup.

“It’s hard to win,” said Hunter. “There’s a lot of good horses and for me it’s teams, there’s a lot of good teams in the hockey world. When you win, you’ve got to appreciate every moment.”

Crack Shot’s latest win puts him over $300,000 in career earnings. He paid $2.40 to win.

Team McNair had a big night at the office on Saturday, as Doug guided the Gregg-trained Galen Erso to victory in the $130,913 SBOA Trot for three-year-old colts and geldings as part of a three-win night for the trainer.

A son of Green Manalishi S, Galen Erso had to grind first-up around the far turn and held off a late push from longshot Fast Snap (Chris Christoforou) to win in 1:55. Chicago Hall (Jamieson) was third, while Cousin Halifax (Travis Cullen) was fourth.

Galen Erso was making his first start for new owner Brad Grant, after being sold by Marcus Melander. The son of Green Manalishi S is now one-for-two this season and four-for-nine overall, with more than $270,000 earned.

Galen Erso paid $3.10 to win.

The $136,513 SBOA Filly Trot went to 8-5 second-choice Green Glider for driver Bob McClure and trainer Scott McEneny.

A daughter of Green Manalishi S, Green Glider showed plenty of determination by marching first-up from fifth around the far turn and powering down the lane to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:54.

McClure was driving Green Glider for the first time Saturday, as regular driver Trevor Henry was out of town.

“I talked to Trevor before he left and he told me just how much he liked her and how nice she was and her lines just speak for themselves,” said McClure. “I wasn’t too worried about first up, I figured it was between me and Monalishi and the way mine’s been finishing I didn’t think she could get by me.”

Sprite Seelster (Tyler Borth) moved to the lead in the second split and took the field by fractions of :56.3 and 1:25.3. Green Glider wore down Sprite Seelster throughout the stretch drive for the score. Race favourite Monalishi, who sat second-over for driver James MacDonald behind the eventual winner, just edged Sprite Seelster for second.

Green Glider is now two-for-three to start her three-year-old season after winning twice in eight starts at age two. Her SBOA Final win takes her to $122,764 earned for owners Andrea Lea Racingstables Inc.

A $2 win ticket on Green Glider returned $5.30.

In overnight action, the $36,000 Preferred Pace featured the 2025 season debut of two notable performers from 2024 — O'Brien Award winner Nijinsky and late season sensation Ervin Hanover. But neither of those accomplished performers had an answer for the buzzsaw that is Brue Hanover, who marched to his sixth straight win and took a new lifetime mark over less than ideal conditions in the process.

Driver James MacDonald got the call behind five-year-old Brue Hanover ($4.10) for the first time on Saturday night and the duo clicked in a big way. Pointed to the lead from post five, even money choice Brue Hanover sliced out fractions of :27.3, :55.4 and 1:22.3 before powering home in :26.2 for the 1:49 tally. Nijinsky (Roy) and Ervin Hanover (McNair) each closed well for second and third, respectively but in the words of Hall of Famer and racing analyst Randy Waples, "I'm not sure [Brue Hanover is] beatable right now." 

Dave Menary conditions Brue Hanover (Stay Hungry - Blind Ambition) for Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, Pa. The pacer is now a 27-time winner with more than $505,000 in earnings. Of note, he's earned more — $174,917 — in 11 starts in 2025 than he did in 31 starts — $144,286 — a year ago.

In the $25,000 Pop-Up Series final, Carmen Auciello-trained Century Inspector and driver Jamieson completed a series sweep with a wire-to-wire 1:51 win over stablemate Larceny (Davis). The series was for male pacers that were non-winners of $20,000 or not averaging $1,700 per start in 2025 in a minimum of eight starts. 

Live racing resumes Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 6:35 p.m. For Saturday's full results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Woodbine & Standardbred Canada)