This year's North America Cup champ, Nijinsky continues his stellar sophomore campaign and maintained his perfect record north of the border in 2024 after a facile score in Ontario Sires Stakes action on a soggy Friday, Aug. 16 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
With James MacDonald subbing for regular pilot Louis-Philippe Roy, 1-5 choice Nijinsky crossed over from post eight to land in fifth for MacDonald. Chain Gang (Trevor Henry) bolted off the car and fronted the field through a :26.4 opening panel. As the halfway point was reached in :56.1, Jody Jamieson confronted the pacesetter courtesy a first-over approach with Legal Attack. On Jamieson's helmet was the nose of Nijinsky, and the favourite followed that cover until the 1:23.1 third quarter. MacDonald had Nijinsky in three-wide territory around the far turn, and he responded willingly when shown the long Mohawk stretch.
Chain Gang had no answer for the final quarter kick of Nijinsky, who danced home in :27 for the 1:51 score. Crush Kill Destroy (Doug McNair) was next best, 3-1/2 lengths off the leader, with Wikipedia (Travis Cullen) closing well for show dough.
"He's so brave right now," said MacDonald after sitting behind Nijinsky for the first time this year. "Louis and Tony have done an amazing job with him all year. He's just been flying home and blowing by great horses.
"Last year he was fast. This year he's just unbelievable."
MacDonald also showed his appreciation for the drive in this fourth OSS leg for the division.
"I just want to thank Louis for letting me pinch hit this week. Sometimes we forget — as drivers, we're so competitive — there's other things in life to racing. Kudos to him to taking the family to P.E.I. and I hope they're having a great trip."
Nijinsky (Bettors Delight - Pirouette Hanover) is owned by West Wins Stable of Wellington, Fl., John Fielding of Scarborough, Ont., and Mark Dumain of Pine Bush, N.Y. That's his eighth win of the year and ninth lifetime, lifting his earnings over $1.1 million. He returned $2.40 to win.
With the first and third-place finishers, trainer Anthony Beaton surpassed the $10 million mark in career purse earnings. The Waterdown, Ont. resident is in the midst of a career year with $1.77 million in earnings on Canadian soil — second best in the nation — with North American earnings exceeding $2.8 million for the season.
For the results from the Friday night card of harness racing in Campbellville, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Standardbred Canada)