Yannick Gingras and Jimmy Takter swept the eliminations of the Peaceful Way Stakes Thursday night at Mohawk Racetrack with Thats All Moni and Ariana G.
A group of 17 two-year-old trotting fillies were split into two $30,000 eliminations for the $363,000 Peaceful Way Stakes.
Thats All Moni got a perfect trip to capture the first elimination in 1:54.4.
The Takter-trained filly got away fifth in the field of nine and sat in that position until near the midway point. Gingras was able to catch cover with Thats All Moni behind Magic Presto, who was sent first up.
Grandmas Moni cut out opening fractions of :28.1 and :58.3, but didn’t have any trot on the final turn and went off stride just after giving up the lead to Magic Presto. The new leader reached the three-quarter pole in 1:26.3, while Gingras dropped his filly in behind to sit on the leader’s back turning for home.
In the stretch, Thats All Moni edged to the outside and rocketed by to defeat Magic Presto by 2-1/4 lengths. Winter Sweet Frost finished third, while Southwind Avanti and Cameron Hill grabbed the final two spots to qualify for next week’s final.
“She felt real strong,” said Gingras post-race about Thats All Moni. “I dropped back in behind (Magic Presto) at the end of the last turn because I could, but my filly was really strong all the way through the stretch.”
The daughter of Cantab Hall is a three-quarter sister to the $1.4 million winning Snow White and was purchased for $230,000 at last year’s Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.
Thats All Moni, who paid $3.30 to win, is owned by Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz and Al Libfeld. She now has three wins in six starts and over $121,000 in earnings.
The second elimination featured arguably the top two-year-old in the sport and she didn’t disappoint. Ariana G crushed her rivals by 7-3/4 lengths in a flashy 1:53.2.
The daughter of Muscle Hill and driver Gingras got away third before brushing to the lead at the half in :56.3. Ariana G trotted to the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1 and then pulled away without breaking a sweat for a :28.1 last quarter and another dominating victory.
“She’s unbelievable” said Gingras following the victory. “I’ve been really blessed the last three years with trotting fillies. I’ve got three Hambletonian Oaks in a row, but this filly ranks right up there with them.”
Ariana G is a full-sister to Breeders Crown and Hambletonian Oaks champion All The Time and the rookie trotting filly is quickly upstaging her big sister.
“She had a lot more tonight, that’s for sure,” Gingras said. “Turning for home she was really latched onto the bit in a good way. She wasn’t being too grabby or nothing, but she just had a whole awful lot of trot and all the way through the wire I had a handful and I was really impressed.”
Dream Together finished second to Ariana G, while Pure Kemp was third. The final two spots in the Peaceful Way final were secured by Stuck In My Spanks and The Erm.
Ariana G, who paid $2.10 to win, improves to six for six with her victory Thursday. The Katz and Libfeld homebred will carry earnings of $295,870 into next week’s rich final.
Following the eliminations, the post positions for the $363,000 Peaceful Way final were drawn. Elimination winners earned their connections the right to select their post for the final.
The Peaceful Way Stakes final will take place on the Maple Leaf Trot and Canadian Trotting Classic card on Saturday, September 17th.
1. Stuck In My Spanks
2. Thats All Moni
3. Pure Kemp
4. Ariana G
5. Cameron Hill
6. Southwind Avanti
7. Winter Sweet Frost
8. The Erm
9. Dream Together
10. Magic Presto
AE: Glitzey Gal
(WEG)
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.