Sent off at odds of 52-1, Millys Filly repelled the persistent challenges of 1-2 favourite Van Goghing Fast to prevail in the $10,800 Four-Year-Old Stake Race at The Loop on Saturday, Sept. 19.
A full field of eight went postward in the afternoon feature, with top Alberta driver Phil Giesbrecht making a special guest appearance on the Saturday card. The Manitoba native has a lull in his schedule with Alberta's Standardbred scene dark this weekend in advance of next Friday's season opener at Century Mile. Giesbrecht got the call on favoured Van Goghing Fast for trainer Marc Fillion, but had to overcome the outside post eight and seven rivals to the inside.
One of those rivals was the chestnut pacing mare Millys Filly, who left hardest from post five for driver Blake Piwniuk and crossed over to gain command. Giesbrecht stalked the leader with Van Goghing Fast, overland through fractions of :30.1, 1:00.1 before tucking into the pocket after the half. After the 1:31.3 third station, Van Goghing Fast came back out for another shot at the pacesetter. Millys Filly wanted it more, and hung on to win by a quarter of a length with the mile timed in 2:02.3. Stefs Inheritance (Paula Mason) rounded out the top trio.
Millys Filly (Mr Rock-Rumor Mill) is now a six-time winner in her career with $18,091 in earnings. She was bred by her trainer and owner, Aurel Vodon of Virden, Man. She paid $106.90 to win.
Giesbrecht didn't connect in the afternoon's feature but he did etch his name in the track record books in the finale when two-year-old pacing colt Farmers Speed ($3.20) won a $6,800 conditioned race by 10 lengths in 2:03.2. That mile time, while slower than the 2:02.3 mark of rookie gelding Lookinlikeamillion, is faster than the previous colt mark of 2:04.2 set by Wood Morning in 2024.
Last week's Kindergarten Stakes winner, Farmers Speed (Resistance Futile-Farmers Rainbow) is now a three-time winner with $10,150 accrued for owner, trainer and breeder Trevor Williams of Landmark, Man.
For the full results from Winnipeg's card of harness racing on Saturday, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Millys Filly)