Driver Brady Galliers and trainer Carmen Auciello closed out the 2026 Georgian Downs season with an exclamation point on Saturday, Aug. 29, adding a last-to-first upset victory in the finale to their meet-leading totals.
Wifey Said So, driven by Galliers for Auciello, spotted the field several lengths at the start from post nine and dropped to the back before rolling outside coming off the second turn and racing fourth-over down the back. The six-year-old mare, owned by Rocco Auciello of Stouffville, Ont., then circled wide on the turn and flew home to win in 1:54.2 at 23-1 as the longest shot on the board — despite racing for the leading driver and trainer. Gingertree Carilin (Malik Smith) was second, followed by Hp Josephine (Austin Sorrie).
Galliers has excelled in his first full season in Ontario, smashing his previous records for driving wins and earnings. He finished the Georgian Downs meet with 29 wins, five more than Jason Ryan in second. Samuel Fillion, the 2025 driving champion, finished third on 23 wins. With 236 overall victories, Galliers is tied for second in the nation with Fillion, 17 back of Austin Sorrie.
Auciello won the training title with 15 wins at Georgian this season. Jodie Cullen finished second with nine tallies, followed by Ken Oliver with eight. Auciello has 66 wins across all tracks this year.
The closing-day card also featured six divisions of the Prospect Series Leg 4B for two-year-old pacers, with three for each sex.
Lyons Pasion ($4.40) won the first filly division in 1:54.2 for driver Scott Coulter, We Want It All ($3.30) took the second in 1:53.3 with Paul MacKenzie in the bike, and Th Penelope ($12.50) took the third for Mark MacDonell in 1:54.
Strike The Pose ($27.50) closed to a 1:55.1 victory in line to MacDonell in the first colt contest, Pownalbay Andrew ($10.10) surged home to take the second in 1:56.3 for MacKenzie, and Aussie Pharoah ($2.70) won the third in 1:54.2 for trainer-driver Mike Vanderkemp.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Georgian Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)