Woodbine Mohawk Park: 2YO trotting fillies meet in Pure Ivory eliminations

Rookie trotting fillies were in the spotlight Thursday at Woodbine Mohawk Park for the eliminations of the Grade 3 Pure Ivory Stakes.

Formerly a three-week series, the Pure Ivory and three other annual 2-year-old events are now being raced as eliminations and a final in 2026. A group of 18 2-year-old trotting fillies were split into two C$25,000 eliminations to determine the field for the C$167,000 final.

The first elimination saw Beauts Cabaret find the wire just in time to hold off the flying pair of Emma Deo and Treasure King to win by a head in 1:55. Louis-Philippe Roy guided the Steve Bossence trainee to the victory.

Cold Breeze left hard from the outside to make the front ahead of Beauts Cabaret, posting fractions of 27 4/5, 57 2/5 and 1:26 4/5. Angling from the two-hole, Beauts Cabaret was trying to reel in Cold Breeze for half the stretch before overtaking. Emma Deo and Treasure King had sat side-by-side at three-quarters and both turned in 27 second final quarters to come flying after the eventual winner.

Cold Breeze watched the close finish from fourth, while Tic Tac Fashion was fifth to secure a spot in next week's final.

Entering Thursday off a debut victory, Beauts Cabaret improved to two-for-two for owners Stephen Palermo, Jeffery Ruch and Bossence. The daughter of International Moni knocked nearly three seconds off her time from July 30 and now has C$23,500 earned. A $2 win ticket on Beauts Cabaret returned $8.70.

Rebel Moon converted off a second-over trip to win the second elimination for driver James MacDonald and trainer Carl Jamieson in 1:56 1/5.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The talk of the toteboard in the second split was Rebel Moon's stablemate Major Contender, who went off at odds of 3-5 but finished sixth. R Rosie showed the field through fractions of 28 1/5, 58 and 1:27 4/5 to set up a stretch showdown. Rebel Moon shot off cover to power victory in the lane, pushing by first-over attacker Song From Heaven and two-hole tripper Stocks And Bonds for a length and a quarter victory.

Dreamtrade rallied up for fourth, while Northern Song got fifth. Major Contender got a three-hole trip and pushed home behind the third-place finisher, but finished sixth by just 2 3/4 lengths.

A judges inquiry into the start of the race left anxious moments for the top-two finishers as their numbers flashed. However, no change was made following the review.

Just like her stablemate, Rebel Moon was already an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold division winner ahead of the Pure Ivory. The daughter of Muscle Mass is now two-for-four with just over C$52,000 earned for owners Sarah Anthon and Ellen Ott. A $2 win ticket on Rebel Moon paid $12.50.

The Pure Ivory elimination winners were guaranteed a starting spot anywhere from posts two to six for the final. The draw for next Friday's (August 7) C$167,000 Grade 3 race is listed below:

1-Dreamtrade (Louis-Philippe Roy)

​2-Emma Deo (Tyler Jones)

​3-Tic Tac Fashion (Trevor Henry)

​4-Treasure King (Jody Jamieson)

​5-Rebel Moon (James MacDonald)

​6-Beauts Cabaret (Louis-Philippe Roy)

​7-Northern Song (Bob McClure)

​8-Cold Breeze (James MacDonald)

​9-Song From Heaven (Tyler Borth)

​10-Stocks And Bonds (Trevor Henry)

​AE-Swingingchandelier (Bob McClure)

--press release (Woodbine Mohawk Park)--