In a thrilling photo finish at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Chalk Hanover clinched victory by a neck in the featured pace event on Tuesday night (June 25). The three-year-old gelding, driven by James MacDonald, started from the six hole and was still in sixth place at the three-quarters mark. Always A Thrill, driven by Doug McNair, led the race with fractions of :26.2, :53.3, and 1:21 in the $18,000 pace for colts and geldings who were Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series starters.
Chalk Hanover began his surge in the final stretch, moving into third position. As he, Do Better, and Always A Thrill approached the finish line, all three horses crossed in 1:50.1. Chalk Hanover emerged victorious by a neck for trainer David Menary. Do Better, with Sylvain Fillion, secured second place by a neck over Always A Thrill, who finished third.
Owned by Menary Racing Inc. of Rockton, Ontario, and Anthony Timmins of Birmingham, Great Britain, Chalk Hanover's win marked his third victory in five starts. The Bettors Delight gelding now boasts a record of 4-3-0 in 11 starts this year, with earnings of $62,280. This win also set a new lifetime mark for Chalk Hanover, whose career earnings now total $73,420.
In the night's featured trot with an $18,000 purse, Valuable Miss, driven by Trevor Henry, triumphed with a time of 1:54.3. The three-year-old My MVP filly last won in September in the Champlain Stakes. Trained by Kyle Bossence, Valuable Miss holds a record of 3-3-1 in 16-lifetime starts, accumulating a bankroll of $207,945. Bossence and Henry, both from Arthur, Ontario, co-own Valuable Miss with William J. Pendleton of Kenilworth, Ontario.