MILTON, September 3, 2024 – Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe), currently the top-ranked horse in the Hambletonian/Breeders Crown weekly poll, headlines a competitive field of six pacing mares in the $205,000 Milton Stakes on Saturday, September 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
With only six mares entered, eliminations were not necessary for this year’s Milton Stakes.
Twin B Joe Fresh has been nearly unbeatable this season, securing victories in eight of her nine starts, including all stakes races she has entered. Trained by Chris Ryder, the four-year-old standout captured the Roses Are Red at Mohawk in June and has since added wins in the Perfect Sting, Dorothy Haughton Memorial, Lady Liberty, and Cleopatra Invitational.
While Twin B Joe Fresh has dominated the season, the other five mares in the Milton Stakes bring impressive credentials to the race.
Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki) has been Twin B Joe Fresh’s primary challenger throughout their careers. Although Sylvia Hanover, the reigning Canadian Horse of the Year, has only one win in 10 starts this season, she has finished second five times, including in the Roses Are Red and Perfect Sting. Her lone victory came in the Clara Barton Pace at Plainridge.
Trainer Nick Gallucci’s Millar Farms homebreds, Silver Label (Bettors Delight) and Prohibition Legal (Big Jim), will both challenge Twin B Joe Fresh once again. Silver Label finished second, and Prohibition Legal took fourth in the Lady Liberty on August 3. Both five-year-olds have earned over $1 million in their careers.
Always B Naughty (Always B Miki), another four-year-old contender, represents trainer Nancy Takter. She won an elimination for the Roses Are Red in June and placed third in the final. With three wins this season, Always B Naughty comes into the Milton Stakes following a strong 1:52.2 qualifier, with a :25.4 last quarter, on August 30 at Mohawk.
Rounding out the field is local favourite Tells On A Roll (Tellitlikeitis). The four-year-old Indiana-bred has been the top Preferred mare at Mohawk this season, recording 10 wins and 16 top-three finishes from 17 starts. The only time Jodie Cullen's trainee missed the top three was a fourth-place finish in the Roses Are Red.
The post positions for the $205,000 Milton Stakes on September 14 will be drawn this weekend.
Here is the field of six listed in alphabetical order:
- Always B Naughty (Always B Miki)
- Prohibition Legal (Big Jim)
- Silver Label (Bettors Delight)
- Sylvia Hanover (Always B Miki)
- Tells On A Roll (Tellitlikeitis)
- Twin B Joe Fresh (Roll With Joe)