Horseman Yves Filion was noticeably absent from the winner’s circle celebrations when Wrangler Magic produced one of his biggest victories in a while, which came this past Saturday at Mohawk Racetrack in the $479,000 final of the Fan Hanover Stakes for three-year-old pacing fillies.

“I watched the race on TV at my farm (in Lachute, Que., where he oversees the training of 22 horses). It’s always a thrill to win a big race like this. I knew she’d be tough with a trip, and for the first time, she got one. She’s a big mare, not perfectly sound, but she’s good right now and she looks to be improving every start,” said Filion.

Success on racing’s grandest stages is nothing new for Filion, who won the $1-million North America Cup final with Runnymede Lobell in 1988, the $650,000 Confederation Cup final in 2001 with Ring Of Life and the $500,000 Breeders Crown final for older pacers with Goliath Bayama in 2001.

Filion owns a quarter-share of Wrangler Magic, a Mach Three mare that he broke and developed before sending her to his Ontario-based associate Stephane Larocque to train.

The 68-year-old usually picks his own stock, but he accepted Wrangler Magic as a yearling because he knew breeder Maurice Stewart from their time at Standardbred Canada and has owned horses before with Quebec City’s Brian Paquet, a friend (and co-owner) who approached him about taking her.

With only three career wins to date, it’s a bit early to compare her to his other star pacing mare Rebeka Bayama, but Filion said Wrangler Magic – with more than $460,000 on her card – has accomplished more at this stage of her career. “She beat the best (Saturday). Rebeka didn’t race much at three.”

To read the recap from the Fan Hanover Stakes and the complete Pepsi North America Cup undercard at Mohawk Racetrack, click here. For full analysis and a replay of the NA Cup, click here.

The next stop for Wrangler Magic is the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold series at Mohawk Racetrack on July 2. After that, Filion said she’ll get a month off to prepare for the balance of the campaign, which is expected to include the Breeders Crown.

(A Trot Insider Exclusive by Paul Delean)