Woodbine Mohawk Park: Monalishi crowned in Peaceful Way final

Monalishi gave first-crop sire Green Manalishi a big feather in his cap by rallying from way off a contested pace to take Saturday night's C$390,000 Peaceful Way Stakes final for 2-year-old filly trotters at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:52 2/5.

Starting from post eight, driver James MacDonald landed in the eighth position with Monalishi, who had won three straight before finishing second in her elimination last week. Up front, Royal Mission (Todd McCarthy), who defeated Monalishi in that elimination, set sail for the lead from the three-hole, but stablemate and 32-1 shot Margareta Hanover (Yannick Gingras) was driven very aggressively and pressed on two-wide past a 27 1/5 quarter to take command.

Race favorite Champagne Problems (Dexter Dunn), the New Jersey Sire Stakes champion, then moved to the outside from third in the backstretch, but she was forced by Margareta Hanover to work beyond the 55 3/5 half to get the top. R Dutchess (Jody Jamieson), last week's other elimination victor, got going first-up from fifth prior to that station, giving cover to Lasting Dream (Louis-Philippe Roy). Monalishi was also in position to get into the outer tier but couldn't keep up and gapped on the last turn.

Champagne Problems clung to the front at the 1:23 3/5 three-quarters, but R Dutchess was able to sustain her bid and forged her way to the point in the stretch. Lasting Dream was coming on the outside, though, as was Monalishi, who hit top gear once they straightened up in the lane. It was a good battle to the wire, but Monalishi's 27 4/5 final kicker got her by Lasting Dream to prevail by half a length. R Dutchess was a game third, followed by Champagne Problems and Margareta Hanover.

"I didn't know anything about her. I talked to Jody, and Jody was more than forthcoming with information about her," said MacDonald, who picked up the drive when Jamieson opted to steer R Dutchess. "Jody's done a terrific job with her and I know it killed him to jump off. All he ranted about all week was how much he loved her, but sometimes you've got to make tough calls, and I was just happy to pick up the drive. Leaving the gate everyone was barreling out of there, and I kind of had to call an audible. It takes a good horse to give you another big, big kick after that.

"She just kind of rode lightly on the lines the whole way. Turning for home she was on the bit but not raging. I said 'oh maybe we'll get a chunk,' and then every time I asked her she just gave me a little more and a little more. Halfway down the lane she really kicked into gear, and I was pretty confident she was going to get there."

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Bred by Shmuel Farhi, Monalishi went for $28,000 at the 2023 Standardbred Horse Sale. Co-owned by trainer Blake MacIntosh with Tim Klemencic, Monalishi has four wins in six outings, has banked C$372,500 and paid $24.90 to win as an 11-1 shot.

"I just wasn't happy that she got beat. I thought that she was the best in there last week. We put her on front, and she's just not as good on front. We know that," MacIntosh said about Monalishi's defeat a week ago. "The only other time she got beat was when we put her on front. She's better chasing horses, but it just didn't work out last week. I can tell you in the wintertime I thought we had two better than her and she's just turned into being a great horse. They've done a great job with her raising her and we're really happy with her.

"I thought she could get it done. I thought she'd be a lot better just chasing and finishing off the mile. It just worked out that way. It worked out perfect. James gave her a great drive, and Jody's done a hell of a job with her all year. I was a little upset when he picked off but what are you going to do? You've got to go with the best."