Woodbine Mohawk Park: Second time's the charm for Gallucci with undefeated Chantilly?

In the words of the late Yogi Berra, it seems like déjà vu all over again for trainer Nick Gallucci. Just three years ago he had an undefeated 2-year-old daughter of Big Jim that had gone unbeaten through her first five races heading into the She's A Great Lady Stakes. Back then Prohibition Legal captured her elimination before losing for the first time a week later in the final to Niki Hill. On Saturday (Sept. 14), Gallucci's Big Jim-sired filly, the unbeaten Chantilly, hopes to take one more step than her current stablemate by first capturing one of two C$35,000 trials at Woodbine Mohawk Park and then the final one week later.

"They are similar," Gallucci said when contacted on Tuesday. "But I would say that Chantilly came to her speed earlier than Prohibition Legal."

There is clear past-performance evidence of that as Chantilly raised many an eyebrow when she won in 1:50 4/5 in just her second career start, an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold edition July 16 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Millar Farms-homebred had started the year off with a win in the Grassroots but quickly acclimated to the higher level with a breathtaking performance from post seven.

"She went a big trip," said Gallucci of the mile that saw Chantilly well back at the half and pacing a sub-53 final half in an overpowering and eye-catching performance.

Since the win there have been three more, with each finding Chantilly and driver James MacDonald on the front-end. Gallucci is not concerned about racing style but does understand what bettors are looking for.

"When you're the heavy favorite bettors expect you to be in front," said Gallucci, mindful of his driver's racing strategy.

On Saturday, Chantilly faces seven rivals, including a pair from the States that enter the She's A Great Lady after competing in their Sire Stakes finals in New York and Pennsylvania. The Last Martini (post two) was parked without cover the final half, yet wore down the favorite to capture the $225,000 New York Sire Stakes final at Yonkers on September 7 for trainer Jared Bako. The daughter of Huntsville has navigated New York's half-mile tracks well and will face a new test with the long stretch and open company. Lily White Hanover (post three), the half-sister to Legendary Hanover, was a strong third in the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes final contested at The Meadows on September 5. The Captaintreacherous-sired filly had won her first two stakes engagements in Pennsylvania for trainer Andrew Harris, including a 1:51 3/5 performance on July 21 at Pocono. Lily White Hanover drew post three.

Chantilly starts from post six in Saturday's trial, carded as race six on a stakes-filled 13-race program. The outside draw will be nothing new to the first-year pupil as Chantilly won her last three starts all from post eight.

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Five of the seven fillies from the first She's A Great Lady elimination (race one) will also advance to the rich final. Trainer Nancy Takter's My Sweet Lily, a winner on September 6 of the $150,000 New Jersey Classic at the Meadowlands, drew post five in search of her third win in four career starts. A daughter of Sweet Lou, My Sweet Lily posted a 1:51 2/5 career-best clocking in that race.

Andrew Harris sends out two more of his high-priced and high potential fillies in this division, with Treacheryinthedark (post two) and Millie May Hanover (post seven) each looking for a maiden-breaking win while racing strictly in stakes company throughout their first campaign.

Jared Bako brings his six-time winner Cowgirl Hanover into the She's A Great Lady following only her second career defeat in the New York Sire Stakes final to her stablemate. Cowgirl Hanover drew the pole in this division.

While trainer Gallucci does have two quality mares in Saturday's C$205,000 Milton Stakes final (race eight), he appeared resigned to the prospect that he may not win in a race that includes Twin B Joe Fresh.

"I think our chance of finishing second is good," said Gallucci, who has been encouraged lately with the efforts of Silver Label (post three). "I thought she was much improved in her last start (September 6)."

Silver Label has been first or second in nine of her 12 starts this year and finished second behind Twin B Joe Fresh in the Lady Liberty at the Meadowlands on Hambletonian Day.

"I thought Prohibition Legal was ok last time, but she got a perfect trip," said Gallucci of just the second win this year for the gifted mare over her stablemate. Prohibition Legal starts from post six on the outside of the select field.

Twin B Joe Fresh will be looking for her eighth straight stakes win in the Milton, having drawn the rail for trainer Chris Ryder and driver Dexter Dunn, both who share ownership in the gifted mare.

Supporting the stacked program on Saturday will be elimination races for the Canadian Trotting Classic, featuring Highland Kismet, as well as two eliminations of the Elegantimage for sophomore filly trotters. The Metro, for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, will also see two eliminations to determine the 10 finalists. It will mark the first starts north of the border for the once-beaten New Jersey Classic winner Captain Optimistic (race five) and undefeated Ohio standout Swingtown (race 10).

Racing gets underway at 7:10 P.M. (EDT) on Saturday.