After being scratched sick in her last two scheduled starts, Chantilly is back in rare form after winning the $140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Leg 3 Gold Series event for 3-year-old pacing fillies on Tuesday (July 22) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:50.2.
The overwhelming 1-9 favourite and defending Canadian Horse of the Year, is now perfect through all 13 career races for her owner and breeder George Millar of Stouffville, ON, 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 out of Shiraz Seelster, is now four-for-four this year and is on the cusp of $1 million in lifetime earnings ($985,256 to be exact). She has made $224,256 in 2025.
Chantilly proved to be an easy winner of 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 first-quarter. Shortly after, MacDonald had Chantilly out and moving. She quickly cleared, led the group through the :55.2 half and 1:24.1 three-quarters before opening up in the stretch to record a 1¼-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 cheque.
“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.
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 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.”
GRASSROOTS RESULTS
On the Monday (July 21) card at Woodbine Mohawk Park there were four OSS Grassroots divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts.
The winners were:
- Twin B Stanley (Cattlewash-Telltale Hanover) in a career-best 1:53.4 for breeder Twinbrook Limited of Embro, ON, owners Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood, ON, Blair Corbeil of Leduc, AB, Arpad Szabo of Bradford, ON and Mike Mcallister of Beaumont, AB, trainer Rob Fellows and driver James MacDonald. Twin B Stanley was purchased for $55,000 at the 2024 London Classic Yearling Sale.
- Jasper Hill (Cattlewash-Pretty Katherine) in a career-best 1:54.1 for breeder/owner Tom Hill of Hamilton, ON, trainer Tony Beaton and driver Doug McNair.
- Brindle (Bulldog Hanover-Cabrini Hanover) in 1:53.3 for breeders David Willmot of King City, ON and Clay Horner of Toronto, owner Brindle Stable of Cambridge, ON, trainer Dr. Ian Moore and driver Jody Jamieson. Brindle was purchased for $125,000 U.S. at the 2024 Standardbred Horse Sales Company yearling sale in Harrisburg, PA.
- Mega Moves (Dancin Lou-Megaball Hanover) in a career-best 1:54 for breeder Anvil And Lace Farm, Cynthiana, KY, owners Tony Beaton of Waterdown, ON, David Mercer of Westmount, NS, Domenic Chiaravalle of Hamilton, ON and Anvil And Lace Farm of Cynthiana, KY, trainer Tony Beaton and driver Louis-Philippe Roy. Mega Moves was purchased for $45,000 U.S. at the 2024 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale.