Woodbine Mohawk Park: Chantilly, Fifth And Five triumph in OSS Gold Series

Chantilly and Fifth And Five were the winners of C$140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series showdowns for rookie pacers on Sunday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

With James MacDonald in tow in the filly event, Chantilly brushed from fourth at the 27 second opening quarter to the top before the 56 second half-mile station. Chantilly kept control through three-quarters in 1:23 3/5 and then sprinted home in 27 seconds to win by 5 1/2 lengths in 1:50 3/5. Wickedpace (Jody Jamieson) finished third and Millie May Hanover (Todd McCarthy) checked in third.

"As far as to drive, she's two fingers. She's a real gem," MacDonald offered post-race. "When you're 1-9 you've kind of got to try to put them in a place to win the race. As she showed earlier in her first start, she's vicious off a helmet. It's just a matter of getting her around and trying to get the dough without using her much as much as we can because she's got big-time money to race for still.

"She's just so gifted and Nick's (trainer Nick Gallucci) done a great job. She was a little warm her first couple of starts, and now she's kind of matured into a just a little racecar. The sky's the limit. She's got a ton of potential, and I just hope she sees it through because she's a lot of fun."

Bred by owner Millar Farms, Chantilly has won all five of her starts and earned C$257,500. The daughter of Big Jim paid $2.20 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

In the tilt for colts and geldings, Boxer Seelster (Trevor Henry) moved up two-wide from post nine to take the lead past the 26 4/5 opening quarter and then gave way to sit behind Fifth And Five (Jamieson) nearing the 55 2/5 half. Henry immediately wheeled Boxer Seelster back to the outside to re-take command on the final bend and went on to click off three-quarters in 1:23 2/5.

Through the stretch Boxer Seelster continued to show the way, but he was unable to keep the inside completely closed, and Jamieson was able to find room inside the last eighth with Fifth And Five. Once he had space, Fifth And Five charged through and got up to defeat Boxer Seelster by a length in 1:52. Century Lucifer (Tyler Borth) crossed the wire third but was placed sixth for causing interference to Stonebridge Wizard (Doug McNair) in the lane. That elevated Sterling Choice (Dexter Dunn) from fourth to third.

"He just loved this trip tonight. I took a little wiggling, and Trevor's horse was running out luckily," Jamieson remarked about the effort. "I had enough room and he shot through there like a gunshot. He was back to himself tonight."

A Bettor's Delight colt, Fifth And Five is owned by co-owner Carl Jamieson in partnership with Jody's 1140545 Ontario Ltd. and Trevor Edwards. Bred by Darryl Kaplan, Roy Sproxton and Singh Dhillon, Fifth And Five has a summary of 2-2-1 from seven trips behind the gate and has banked C$147,110. He returned $8.90 to win as a 3-1 shot.

"Jody's the one who put his arm up and bought him, but we had some of them back in the family," Carl Jamieson said with a laugh. "We liked the breeding."