Woodbine Mohawk Park: Chantilly returns with authority in OSS Gold Series

After being scratched sick in her last two scheduled starts, Chantilly is back in rare form after winning the C$140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Series event for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Tuesday (July 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:50 2/5.

The overwhelming 1-9 favorite and defending Canadian Horse of the Year is now perfect through all 13 career races for her owner and breeder George Millar, trainer Nick Gallucci and driver James MacDonald.

Millar was in the winner's circle and told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis that Chantilly's sickness, "was a little bit more than we anticipated. When we scratched her from the Fan Hanover, she had inflammation in her lungs, and we just couldn't race her with that. We had a vet scope her lungs, and especially her right one wasn't clear. We just would have done a lot of damage if we had raced her.

"Nick was hoping that he could get her clean by the following week, but just wasn't working out that way. So...you try to do what's best for the horse."

The daughter of Big Jim-Shiraz Seelster is now four-for-four this year and is on the cusp of C$1 million in lifetime earnings (C$985,256 to be exact). She has made C$224,256 in 2025.

Chantilly proved to be an easy winner in the six-horse field. She sat fourth in the early going as Millie May Hanover (Doug McNair), Perfectly Chic (Bob McClure) and Wickedpace (Jody Jamieson) all left the gate.

Wickedpace led the field through the 26 3/5 first quarter, but shortly after, MacDonald had Chantilly out and moving. She quickly cleared, led the group through the 55 2/5 half and 1:24 1/5 three-quarters, then opened up in the stretch on her way to a 1 1/4 length win over the last Gold winner Perfectly Chic. Millie May Hanover was third, Wicked N Single (Louis-Philippe Roy) was fourth and Wickedpace grabbed the last check.

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"This filly is amazing," MacDonald said. "It's a pleasure to drive her. George and Nick, they've been great to me over the years, and it's just great to have another great horse to drive for them. Every time I'm sitting behind her, she's just a lot of fun. And I just can't say enough good about her speed or her class. Everything about her is just perfect."

Chantilly won the first Gold event of the year on May 24 in a career-best 1:49 4/5.

MacDonald said he was looking forward to racing Chantilly against top U.S. sophomore pacing filly Miki And Minnie and her driver Dexter Dunn before too long.

"I think Dex and I are waiting for the two giants to hook up, and we're just hoping we're both on our very best that day," MacDonald said. "I know they're going to put on a good show for the fans - they're great horses - but I don't think any time is out of [Chantilly's] realm. She's got speed like no horse I've, maybe, ever seen. And I just hope one day it sets up and she can put on a show for the clock, too."

Millar said he was also looking forward to Chantilly racing against Miki And Minnie, but took objection to a someone's suggestion that Chantilly scratched out of the Fan Hanover to duck Miki And Minnie.

"I can't really believe a person would say that," Millar said. "Miki And Minnie is a great horse, but we got a great horse, too. That's something about horse racing. I love the sport, and to race the best against the best, that's what you want to see. And whatever way the cards fall, that's the way they fall. But, you settle it on the track. Hopefully, we'll run against up against her in Pocono, there's a stake race down there, so maybe we'll race against her in that.

"It’s awesome watching [Chantilly] race. She's a thrill for me right now."

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--