Favourite American Virgin collared pacesetter Nirvana Seelster late in the mile to win the $27,000 top level conditioned class and cap off a Saturday night training triple for O'Brien Award finalist Richard Moreau.
Leaving from post two, 8-5 second choice Nirvana Seelster and Trevor Henry established the lead and carved out fractions of :27, :56.3 and 1:25 with the parked out Fine Diamond finding a spot along the pylons before eventually breaking stride. Meanwhile, American Virgin and driver Doug McNair progressed first-up from fifth en route to the midway mark and eventually wore down Nirvana Seelster in the stretch with their rivals closing from all directions. American Virgin stopped the clock in 1:53 flat, prevailing by three-quarters of a length with Mach Code and Champagne Phil getting up for second and third just ahead of Nirvana Seelster.
Sent off as the 7-5 post time favourite, American Virgin paid $4.90 to win.
Owned by Brad Grant of Milton, Ont., American Virgin capped off his 2017 campaign an 11-time winner on December 23 and picked up where he left off with his triumphant 2018 debut this evening. The six-year-old Always A Virgin gelding notched his 25th career win and bumped his bankroll to $558,686.
Moreau, whose trainees swept the top two spots in Friday night's Mares Preferred, also sent out Saturday winners Four Card Major ($3.70) and Physicallyinclined ($7), both driven by Louis-Philippe Roy.
Moreau is Canada's four-time defending Trainer of the Year and is an O'Brien Award finalist once again, along with McNair's father Gregg, after leading the national standings in 2017 with 277 wins and more than $3.7 million in earnings. McNair is also an O'Brien Award finalist for Driver of the Year, with Roy, after topping the charts for earnings with a $5.9 million season.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.