Woodbine Mohawk Park: Venerable dominates in Peaceful Way final

Venerable is now seven-for-seven in her career after winning Saturday night's C$392,000 Peaceful Way Stakes final for 2-year-old trotting fillies at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:54 3/5.

Driver David Miller settled Venerable into third from post five while American Beauty (Yannick Gingras) stepped to the lead and forced Dabra Day (Louis-Philippe Roy) to tuck into the two-hole after the 28 1/5 opening quarter.

After the dust settled up front, Miller pulled the trigger two-wide with Venerable, and she would easily clear American Beauty for the top spot before the 57 3/5 half. Delilah Hanover (Andrew McCarthy) would then try it first-over from fourth on the far turn, but she was unable to get up to Venerable's wheel at the 1:26 three-quarters, compromising the chances of second choice Adare Castle (James MacDonald), who was tracking her from second-over.

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Turning for home, Venerable gained separation from the rest of the fillies, and though Adare Castle made some headway late, it was after the race's outcome was no longer in question, as Venerable cruised home to win by two lengths with the plugs still in. Peyton Hanover (Doug McNair) was the third-place finisher, American Beauty held on to finish fourth, and Missy Trix (Dexter Dunn) checked in fifth.

"She's a professional," Miller said after the race. "She's real easy to get along with, does her job, and she's been doing it very well.

"I got her away from the gate, and when I moved her, she got to the lead and relaxed. I spoke to her halfway around the last turn, and as soon as I did, she just picked it right up. Into the stretch, I just kept talking to her, kept her attention, and she was pretty comfortable."

Nifty Norman trains Venerable, a filly from the first crop of Walner, for owners David McDuffee, Mel Hartman, Paul Bordogna, and Steven Arnold. She has pocketed C$511,255 to go with her unbeaten record, and she paid $2.40 to win as the 1-5 favorite. Venerable was bred by Maumee River Stables, Black Creek Farm, Martin Schmucker, and Steve Stewart and was a $210,000 buy at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale. She is the third foal out of the world champion Muscle Hill mare Jolene Jolene (1:52 1/5, $231,673) and a half-sister to Crucial (Father Patrick, 1:52 4/5, $528,598).