Maggie Jones steered four-year-old trotter Veracruz to a sweeping victory in the International Women’s Day race on Saturday, March 8 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
A field of nine overnight trotters lined up for Saturday’s all-women drivers race to celebrate International Women’s Day.
Pam Forgie fired Derf Hanover out to the lead to post a :29.1 opening quarter. The duo showed the way throughout but were pressed through the entire middle half by Mister Magic and Anita Ouellette.
With the field stacking up at three-quarters in 1:28.1, the trotters fanned out five-wide coming off the last turn. Jones, who had taken Veracruz back to eighth early, sat fourth-over at the third marker. In the stretch, Derf Hanover was pushed hard by Forgie and showed his 11-year-old grit trying to hold on, only surrendering the lead in the final sixteenth of the mile.
While it appeared So Not Cool and Natasha Day might have the victory in sight coming down the lane, they were overtaken by a powering Veracruz, who trotted off to a 2-1/2-length score in 1:58.2 for Jones.
“My plan was just to float away and get a spot,” said Jones post-race. “[Veracruz] was just really strong and really game and he just kept coming. He was amazing and never quit.
“[This feels] pretty amazing, I won’t lie. I was pretty happy when I could see the wire and thought we were going to get there.”
Veracruz and Jones went off at odds of 4-1, paying $10.20 to win.
So Not Cool and Day held second, while Eternally Hanover (Jesse Turenne) was third and Tymal Tarot (Marie-Claude Auger) was fourth.
The drivers that participated in this year’s International Women’s Day race were Maggie Jones, Natasha Day, Jesse Turenne, Marie-Claude Auger, Anita Ouellette, Pam Forgie, Marielle Enberg, Anne Marie Turenne and Julie Walker.
In addition to the International Women's Day trot, three $16,000 Pop-Up Series divisions for pacers that were non-winners of $30,000 in 2024 were featured on the 12-race card.
Hurrikane Cheyenne kicked-off the Pop-Up action, converting a pocket trip into a 1:53 score by a neck over pacesetter Highlandbeachlover (Tyler Borth). Jody Jamieson drove Hurrikane Cheyenne, who is yet to miss the board in 10 starts in 2025. Amanda Fine trains and co-owns the five-year-old gelded son of Always B Miki-Idyllic Beach with Bailey Ford and Kwik Haven Farms.
Major Fernco N and driver Billy Davis Jr. scored in the second division, using a first-over move in the third quarter before fending off JJ Landon (Travis Henry) by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.1. Paul Thomas Court trains the nine-year-old gelded son of Art Major-Snipers Lair who has won two of five starts in 2025 for owner M T Stables.
Hunter Hill and Scott Young were on the hunt from the outset in the third division, using a front-end steer to score by a length in 1:53.2 over Armor Seelster in 1:53.2. The victory was the first in three outings this season for the eight-year-old son of Somebeachsomewhere-Ali Blue who is owned and trained by Scott West.
The driver and trainer combo of Travis and Jodie Cullen teamed up to win the fourth and final division with Hesincontrol. After assuming command with a first-over brush on the backstretch, Hesincontrol powered away by 2-1/2 lengths over Gentleonmymind (Scott Young) in 1:53.1. The victory was the 20th in the career for the seven-year-old son of Control The Moment-Southwind Madonna. He is owned by Linda Wellwood and Tammy Aspden.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(With files from Woodbine)