Trainer Dustin Jones' homebred Fan Hanover eligible Nat A Virgin set a new Canadian season's record for three-year-old pacing fillies with a 1:50.3 triumph on Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack.
After breaking stride in her first two starts of the year, Nat A Virgin put the pieces together on Friday and lowered the 2014 national division record by more than one full second in an $18,000 conditioned pace. The time also matched the fastest mile by any female pacer this season, which nine-year-old Voelz Hanover set in a top class Preferred event on May 9 at Woodbine Racetrack.
Nat A Virgin, with driver Rick Zeron aboard, was the first to get a call in the evening's fifth race as she sprinted across the track from post seven and cleared to command before the first turn. She race by the quarter pole in :27.1 before 2-5 favourite Major Dancer swept up from fourth to take over during the second panel. The new leader cleared at the half in :55.3 and continued to lead past three-quarters in 1:23.3, but Nat A Virgin blew by in the stretch, kicking home in :26.3.
The 9-5 second choice paid $5.90 to win. Major Dancer finished nearly three lengths behind in second while Wildcat Beauty rounded out the top three finishers seven and a half lengths back.
Nat A Virgin won three of her eight freshman starts, including a leg of the Indiana Sire Stakes, and banked over $50,000 in purses. The Always A Virgin-Nat A Tat Tat filly is owned and bred by Dustin Jones Stables Inc. of Waterdown, Ont. and William Jones of Lexington, Kentucky.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.