Andy Moore's undefeated filly Margosgotthecargo took the Blizzard Pacing Series title after prevailing in a stretch duel over Angostura Hanover in the $38,600 final featured on Friday, Feb. 16 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
James MacDonald, who drove both Margosgotthecargo and Angostura Hanover to victories in the preliminary legs of the series, said the final looked like it was a two-horse race on paper and that match race materialized with the favourites hooking up in the final turn.
James MacDonald sent 1-5 favourite Margosgotthecargo first-up from fifth after a :58.1 first half to confront 3-1 backstretch leader Angostura Hanover and catch-driver Doug McNair as they raced into the final turn to three-quarters in 1:27. The top two battled through a :27 final panel, with Margosgotthecargo wearing down her rival to win by a neck in a new lifetime mark of 1:54 flat. McVera, the longest shot on the board at 66-1, was third best finishing 2-1/4 lengths behind in rein to Brett MacDonald.
"She was awesome, she's got that blazing speed we all know," said James MacDonald after the victory, one of four on the night for the three-time O'Brien Award-winning driver. "I knew Doug was probably going to put me in a bad spot and I'd have to be close. It looked like, on paper, it was probably a two-horse race and it came down to a real sprint late and both horses are really great, I was just lucky enough to get the W tonight."
MacDonald acknowledged the trip wasn't ideal but said his filly felt great.
"The second I moved her, she was just waiting for me to call on her," he said. "It's a good feeling and she's turned into a nice filly. Hopefully she keeps developing into a really nice filly."
Moore bred, trains and owns the three-year-old Big Jim filly out of the Sportswriter mare, Maplelea. The late bloomer started her racing career in December and has won all five of her starts since, earning $48,700. She will be competing in the Ontario Sires Stakes program this season and targeting the Fan Hanover Stakes.
Margosgotthecargo paid $2.60 to win as the bettors' choice.
The series was for three and four-year-old fillies and mares that were non-winners of two races or $30,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2023.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)