Driver Doug McNair found his way back to the winner’s circle with Grace Hill, who powered to a stakes, track and Canadian-record mile in the $305,000 Roses Are Red final on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
McNair landed Grace Hill, the even-money favourite, in third as Silver Label scorched a :25.3 first quarter with Kobes Gigi in behind. As Silver Label tried to grab a breather up the backside, McNair made his move to push Grace Hill to the top and took over control just past a :53.4 half, but kept rolling through the final turn.
Grace Hill coasted to three-quarters in 1:21.1 and peeled away from Silver Label through the lane to a healthy cushion by the eighth pole. McNair began his celebration with a pumped fist at the sixteenth pole and posed for the camera as Grace Hill crossed the line in 1:47.4 to eclipse a decade-old record set by Anndrovette, who in 2013 won the Roses Are Red in a time of 1:48 to set a stakes record along with a track and Canadian record for aged pacing mares. Silver Label finished second, beaten 2-1/2 lengths, with So Much More took third and Kobes Gigi fourth.
“Fifteen, 20 minutes ago, I’m laying on the track not knowing what’s going on,” said McNair, who went down in a spill the race prior. “Next thing you know, I’m standing in the winner’s circle for the Roses Are Red on one of the greatest mares to ever see through a bridle, I think.
“She felt great,” McNair also said. “Dexter [Dunn with Treacherous Dragon] had the two-hole, so we kind of wanted to get advantage of him coming out of the turn. Once the dust settled, I put her on the front and she did the rest. I was just a passenger… it was just outrageous.”
The victory for Grace Hill pushes her deeper down millionaire territory with $1,465,380 banked for owner Tom Hill. Trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., the five-year-old daughter of Always B Miki won for the 24th time in 51 tries and collected her first Canadian stakes win since upsetting star mare Test Of Faith in the $540,000 Breeders Crown Mare Pace last fall at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
In the post-race interview, owner Tom Hill grabbed the microphone and said, “Virgil’s been telling me for the eight, nine months he’s had her that she’s the best mare on the planet. She’s proved it tonight.”
Grace Hill paid $4.10 to win.
The 2023 Pepsi North America Cup featured a stacked undercard with a number of stakes and open class events. Recaps of the evening's other stakes are available below:
- Its My Show Wins 40th Pepsi North America Cup
- Sylvia Hanover Stomps Foes In Fan Hanover
- Southwind Coors Claims Goodtimes In Tight Finish
- Abuckabett Hanover Wins Mohawk Gold Cup
- Stockade Seelster Sizzles In NA Cup Consolation
- Refined Upsets Bella Bellini In Armbro Flight
- Warrawee Vital Matches All-Age Canadian Record
For the results from the 2023 Pepsi North America Cup night card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(With files from Woodbine)