Not just any horse draws a crowd for qualifiers after a card of harness racing on a Sunday afternoon has concluded.

But So Much More is not just your average horse.

After the Sunday afternoon card at Clinton Raceway on Sept. 7, the fans in attendance were in the presence of greatness as three-time O'Brien Award winner So Much More made her first on-track appearance since mid-June.

Andy Moore got the driving assignment behind the daughter of Big Jim - Ladysai on Sunday afternoon, and the duo combined for a wire-to-wire 1:57.4 score.

"She was very good," co-owner Kenn Beatson told Trot Insider on Sunday after the qualifying mile, noting the millionairess might have another qualifier before a return to racing. "We’ll make that decision in the next week. We’re in no rush."

However, So Much More might be. In a conversation at the end of August, Beatson estimated that a late September qualifier might be in the works but "she just trained back quicker than we expected." Don't forget: So Much More didn't have a qualifying mile in five years from April 2019 through to October 2024. She's a warhorse that thrives on competition.

That said, with just one win in 12 starts this season, the stats show that So Much More is in the twilight of her career. Beatson and his co-owners on So Much More — trainer / father Don Beatson and co-owner / nephew Cole England — actually gave the nine-year-old mare a shot at broodmare duty this year.  She was bred to Cattlewash but didn't catch. And thus, So Much More got a summer vacation.  

Now she's back with no timeline for a return, but a return is imminent and broodmare duty will have to wait until next year. In the meantime, So Much More will continue to prepare for a return to action and look to add to her 76-42-23 record and $1.76 million bankroll in her 197th career start.

(Standardbred Canada)