Harvest Series action two-year-old fillies got underway on Monday, Oct. 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A Moment Of Grace was quickest of the three $25,000 splits for pacing fillies, while Sumluckylady earned the top speed badge of the two divisions for trotting fillies.
The series for Ontario Sired fillies who were non-winners of $30,000 as of Sept. 30 saw A Moment Of Grace leave as the 4-1 second choice in her split with driver Tyler Jones aboard.
A Moment Of Grace blasted off the wings from post six, crossing over before the first turn with the even-money favourite, Pa Lila (Jody Jamieson) tucked into second through a :26.4 first quarter. A Moment Of Grace went unchallenged to the half in :55.1 before Dancin Lady Lou (Louis-Philippe Roy) charged first-over and alongside the leader at three-quarters in 1:23.1.
A Moment Of Grace battled gamely to the inside of the challenger, before Dancin Lady Lou and a boxed-in Pa Lila hooked wheels behind the leader mid-way through the stretch. While those two slowed to get untangled, A Moment Of Grace scampered away to a 4-1/2 length victory in 1:52. Effective Control (Trevor Henry) was second, with Ruling Monarch (Jean-Rene Plante) finishing third. Dancin Lady Lou and Pa Lila would finish fourth and fifth respectively after the contact in the stretch.
Owned, trained and bred by Todd James of Caeserea, Ont., the victory was the first in four career tries for A Moment Of Grace. The daughter of Control The Moment-Shellyssilvermoon has hit the board in all four tries, banking $23,040. A Moment Of Grace paid $10.40 to win.
The other two splits for pacing fillies went to Midnight Matrimony (Doug McNair, $6.30) in 1:52.2 for trainer Gregg McNair, and Biscuitinthebasket (James MacDonald, $3,30) for trainer Meg Crone, also in 1:52.2.
On the trotting side, it was Sumluckylady who didn't leave anything to chance with a front-end score in the quicker of the two divisions.
Sent away as the 2-5 favourite, driver Mark MacDonald wasted little time getting Sumluckylady to the front, charging into the first turn with a :28.2 first quarter. Having things her way in the middle stages, Sumluckylady trotted those panels in :57.3 and 1:26.1 with Lady Jag (James MacDonald) the only foe within striking distance from the pocket. From there, Sumluckylady trotted home in :28.2 to keep Lady Jag out of reach by 2-1/4 lengths. Pink Gin Fizz was third, five lengths behind the winner.
The victory was the second in eight tries for the Joseph Parkinson trained Sumluckylady. The Muscle Mass-Superlative filly is owned by the Bax Stable of Campbellsville, Ont., and Brillo Farms of Sharon, Ont., and has earned $60,500 during her rookie campaign. Sumluckylady paid $2.90 to win.
In the second division, Madigan (Louis-Philippe Roy, $2.40) methodically worked her way from last of the six to score in 1:55 for trainer Susanne Kerwood.
The second and final leg of the Harvest Series for two-year-old fillies will be conducted on Monday, Oct. 19 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with the $60,000 final taking place on Monday, Oct. 26.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada; Photo of A Moment Of Grace winning on Oct. 12)