Grand Circuit stakes competitor Talk Curdy To Me led all the way in the $44,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace as the 1-5 favourite in her return to Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Nov. 6 off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Breeders Crown.

A winner of the Mares Open in her last appearance at Mohawk on Sept. 18, the Dave Menary-trained Talk Curdy For Me took control from post six with Louis-Philippe Roy in the sulky this time and cruised through opening panels of :26.2 and :55 with the other eight mares following in single-file alignment before there was any movement from the backfield.

Talk Curdy For Me raced on to three-quarters in 1:22.2 and opened up two lengths as Avyanna (Doug McNair) posed no threat once she angled out of the pocket in the stretch. Instead, Absolution (Bob McClure) proved to be the major danger late off a ground-saving trip in fourth as she shot up the pylons, but ultimately came up a neck short as Talk Curdy To Me held sway for the 1:49.4 triumph. Lets N Joy N (J.R. Plante) rallied from mid-pack to snag the show honours.

The six-year-old Betterthancheddar-Keepers Destiny mare, who ranks sixth in the FanDuel Championship divisional standings, sports a seasonal record reading 2-3-4 in 19 starts with earnings of more than $230,000 for owner Pollack Racing of Venetia, Pennsylvania. A 20-time career winner, she surpassed the million-dollar mark in the Breeders Crown.

Another Harvest Series kicked off a Friday night, this one for Ontario-sired or bred three-year-old pacing fillies, starring favourites No Better Air and Cold Creek Cali. 

The series is for non-winners of $60,000 lifetime or non-winners of $30,000 in 2026 in a minimum of five starts as a Sept. 30, with optional $30,000 claimers also eligible.

No Better Air ($2.40) and driver Travis Cullen led the field of 10 wire-to-wire in the first and fastest $25,000 division, with the Cattlewash-Claireabell filly setting splits of :26.3, :55.3 and 1:23.1 en route to a five-length victory in a new lifetime mark of 1:51. After recently joining the Jodie Cullen stable, last year's Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots champion picked up her first victory of the season in 18 starts for owners Andrea Lea Racingstables of Lakefield Gore, Que., Varsakis Racing, Hamilton, Ont., and Scott McEneny of Carlisle, Ont. Could B Queen (Jody Jamieson) and Whoa Black Betty (James MacDonald) rounded out the top three finishers.

In the other division, Louis Roy made the winning move with Cold Creek Cali ($2.10) from third during the second panel to take the lead by the midway mark and won by two lengths over a pair of late closers in 1:51.1. Owner/breeder Cold Creek Standardbred's Daniel Walker took over the training duties on the Dali-Tymal Black Satin filly for this series start and she now has four wins in 11 races this year. Beach Wiggle (Travis Cullen) finished second and Hatchling (James MacDonald) was third.

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

(Standardbred Canada)