A consistent contender among the top distaffers at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the latter part of the season, Grit N Grace claimed another victory in the $40,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace on Friday, Dec. 5.
Driver Jody Jamieson left with Grit N Grace from post six and established early pocket position through a :26.4 quarter before making the winning move at three-eighths. The 7-5 shot was on top by the :56.2 half-mile mark and turned back a challenge from millionairess So Much More (James MacDonald) past three-quarters in 1:24.3.
Scooting home in :27.3, Grit N Grace opened up in the stretch to secure the win in 1:52.1, with last week's winner, Absolution (Todd Ratchford), cutting her margin to 2-1/2 lengths with a late stretch rally from the backfield to snag second over the Jodie Cullen trainees, first quarter leader Tells On A Roll (Travis Cullen) and a ground-saving Glenboro (Ed Hensley), while So Much More finished fifth.
Trained by Mike Kwietniowski for owner/breeder Lorraine Rey of St. Claude, Man., the former Manitoba stakes winner earned her seventh Open/Preferred level victory of her career at Mohawk. Grit N Grace paid $4.80 to win as the slight second choice to even-money favourite Absolution.
A four-year-old mare by Im The Pied Piper out of Dragonart, Grit N Grace now has 13 wins overall this year to go along with nine seconds and two thirds from 34 starts. She's earned the bulk of her near $370,000 bankroll this year in her second season of racing.
The second round of a conditioned Pop-Up Series for trotters included a pair of $15,000 divisions, which were won by series newcomer Kevin Anthony, driven by Trevor Henry in 1:54.3 for trainer Jack Moiseyev, and the Julie Walker-trained Radcliffe, with Bert Renaud in the bike for a 1:55.1 success off a runner-up finish in round one.
This Pop-Up Series is for trotters that started for a purse of $10,000 or less in their last three races and non-winners of $50,000 in 2025, with non-winners of $30,000 in a minimum of 10 starts in 2025 also eligible.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)