A Delightful Act N extended her winning streak to three with a victory on Sunday, Nov. 12 in the $18,000 Filly and Mare Open Handicap Pace at MGM Northfield Park.
Leaving alertly from post four, A Delightful Act N (Hunter Myers) tried to get to the lead, but Blue Ivy (Greg Grismore) and Mystical Virgin (Kurt Sugg) beat her to the punch. Blue Ivy cleared to the lead around the initial turn, leaving A Delightful Act N parked out for most of the first quarter, eclipsed in :27.1.
Finally clearing the lead mid-way into the far turn for the first time, Myers got a bit of a breather, but pressure in the form of Adashious Hanover (Billy Davis Jr.) was coming first-over at the half in :56.1.
Adashious Hanover shoved her head in front, but A Delightful Act N dug in at the inside, and the pair duelled to three-quarters in 1:23.4. Entering the final turn, A Delightful Act N finally put away Adashious Hanover.
Still, Blue Ivy was lurking in the pocket following a perfect trip. Turning for home, Grismore tried to pop out of the pocket but got caught in traffic trouble through the stretch. A Delightful Act N fended off all challengers late to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.3. Mystical Virgin closed late to be second and Blue Ivy had to settle for third.
A Delightful Act N improved her seasonal record to 7-11-5 in 30 starts and annual income to $138,025, surpassing her earnings from last year and pushing her lifetime bankroll to $324,392. Owned by Schillaci Stables, Sam Bova Racing and John Manning, the seven-year-old mare by Bettors Delight is conditioned by Jodi Schillaci.
Northfield Park’s $8,000 Great Lakes Amateur Driving Association (GLADA) event had as many twists and turns as Northfield's great half-mile track and, when the “official” sign was posted, driver Jacob Baird had a 15-year-old trotter, Ursis Des Caillons, on top in the field of eight.
The French-bred senior citizen by Kool Du Caux, allowed to participate in amateur events only at his age, had been winless in 16 starts coming into the action with only one third-place finish in 2023 with the toteboard at 67-1 reflecting that.
But 20-year-old driver Baird, in the sulky for trainer Justin Ferrari, gave this eventual winner a perfect drive setting up the huge upset.
With the 1-5 favourite Ladys Dude (actually 3-10) expected to dominate the field, driver Edward Miller sent his charge right to the lead and carved out panels of :29, :58.4 and 1:28 with Ursis Des Caillons doing the stalking from his number one post and Dontyousayit, driven by Christina Johnson, third.
Into the final bend, Dontyousayit made a bid and moved on even terms with the leader with Ursis Des Caillons sitting chilly and close up while So Wishfull, far back early, was brushing strongly and just two lengths away but not really having clear sailing in traffic.
Turning for home, the passing lane opened up, with the favourite fighting to hang on with Ursis Des Caillons, taking the shortest route, and Dontyousayit and So Wishfull in assault.
Yards from the finish, Ladys Dude made the costly miscue that continued right through the 1:58.3 wire with the trio of challengers all closing in and “lapped on” the leader.
After the judges review, the disqualification of Ladys Dude moved the others in pursuit up a notch each and Ursis Des Caillons had his first win of the season.
After the event, Baird said, “You know, Ursis [Des Caillons] might have a bit of age on him these days but he always tries hard. With the inside post, I thought I’d try and give him a trip right behind the leader and draft along. I knew he had lots of class and I really thought I could be right there. I might not have thought so from the six or seven or eight post but, from the inside, I thought that might make a big difference.”
It sure did.
Ursis Des Caillons was awarded his 26th lifetime win—18th in the U.S.A.—sending his career earnings to $521,841 with $223,527 of that earned in the U.S.A.
The winner paid $136 to win keying a $1 exacta payoff of $506.90, a $1 trifecta of $1,464.90 and a 20-cent superfecta bonanza of $2,228.04.
The winner, by the way, is owned by Lawrence Fox and Anthony Ciuffetelli.
The GLADA members donate all of their earnings from their races for charitable distribution benefitting countless organizations involved in sanctuaries for retired horses, therapeutic training assisting those in need from traumatic occurrences and other worthwhile causes.
Live harness racing resumes on Monday, Nov. 13 at 6 p.m. Monday's program will honour the nation's veterans with races named in honour of branches of the military and certificates provided to the winning connections; Race 2 - Air Force; Race 3 - Army; Race 4 - Coast Guard; Race 5 - Marines; and Race 6 - Navy.
(With files from Northfield Park & GLADA)