Swift Ally held off the late attack from the favoured Snow Shark to win Friday's (Jan. 14) featured race at Woodbine Mohawk Park, a $28,000 high-end conditioned pace for fillies and mares.
Driven by Trevor Henry, Swift Ally followed the cover of stablemate Shouldabeenatd (Doug McNair) as they rushed by the early Carmen Auciello-trained leaders Trafalgar (Jody Jamieson) and Western Wish (Louis-Philippe Roy) after opening fractions of :28.3 and :58.1. Swift Ally continued to chase Shouldabeenatd uncovered past three-quarters in 1:27.4 and took over command in the stretch before holding off the 2-1 favourite Snow Shark (Travis Cullen), who closed within a half-length under urging from the back of the field. Swift Ally prevailed in 1:56.1 to record her third consecutive victory. Trafalgar edged out Shouldabeenatd for third prize.
Swift Ally paid $7 to win as the 5-2 second choice in the field that was reduced to just five starters with the scratch of New Year's Eve winner Parisian Blue Chip.
Owned and bred by trainer Gregg McNair and Ian Fleming of Londesborough, Ont., the Big Jim-Claires Apache is now two-for-two to start her six-year-old campaign after winning just her final start of an 18-race season in 2021. An Ontario Sires Stakes graduate, Swift Ally now has a dozen wins to her credit with earnings climbing over the $200,000 mark.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park