Taurasi and Grit N Grace both extended their reigns atop the Woodbine Mohawk Park pacing ranks, with each winning their respective $40,000 open-level event on Saturday, Dec. 13.

In the Open Pace, Taurasi briefly took a seat to Brue Hanover (James MacDonald) as that rival swung to the lead in a :26.4 first quarter, but Doug McNair had him pushing to the front just beyond that point. Taurasi took a soft second quarter, leading to the half in :56, but was pressured to three-quarters in 1:24.1 as longshot Miraculous Desbi N (J.R. Plante) drew level on the final turn. The leader edged back out to a clear advantage coming into the stretch and resisted the advances of Miraculous Desbi N down the lane to prevail in 1:52. The rush of Brue Hanover came too late, and he was three-quarters of a length back in second. Miraculous Desbi N f third.

Taurasi took his third straight Open victory, boosting his seasonal stats to seven wins from 25 starts for trainer Gregg McNair. The six-year-old Racing Hill-Voluminous gelding, owned by Brad Grant of Milton, Ont. and Alagna Racing LLC of Jackson, N.J., has now won 30 times and earned $887,124 in 82 career starts. He returned $3.40 to win.

Grit N Grace went right down the road in the Fillies and Mares Open for a second consecutive win. She flashed early speed for Plante, taking command without struggle, and was left to set the fractions of :27.3, :57.4, and 1:26.4. Pocket-sitting favourite Absolution (Todd Ratchford) encroached down the lane and surged late to cut the deficit to a neck, but Grit N Grace hung on for a 1:54.1 victory. Style For A Mile (Doug McNair) completed the top three.

Grit N Grace is now 14-for-35 this season with eight top-level wins at Mohawk. Mike Kwietniowski trains the mare for owner-breeder Lorraine Rey of St. Claude, Man. The win was the four-year-old Im The Pied Piper-Dragonart mare’s 21st in 51 starts, and she has now earned $389,985. She paid $5.40 to win.

Before Taurasi and Grit N Grace got the job done in the Opens, Santa Claus also stayed on top with another victory over the Grinch in the annual match race. Saint Nick shot out to an early lead with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Horse,” but the Grinch and “Max” swept by Santa coming off the first turn and opened up a sizable advantage. Father Christmas began to reel in his dastardly foe turning for home though, and Rudolph charged past Max in the final strides to save Christmas again.

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

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Taurasi winning on Dec. 13)