September 30, 2023
By James Platz for Ontario Racing
MILTON, September 30, 2023 – Pretty Special lived up to her name Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The sophomore filly trotter, driven by Chris Christoforou and sent off as the 3-5 favourite, sprinted home in dominating fashion to capture her $75,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots final.
The Resolve-Pretty Crafty sophomore stopped the clock in a lifetime best 1:53.2.
Trained by Camilla Christoforou for owner Brad Grant, Pretty Special entered Saturday’s final off an impressive semi-final victory on September 22, scoring a near four-length tally with a 1:53.3 effort.
The win was only the second of the season, however, as Pretty Special struggled with breaking issues earlier in the year.
“We got lucky,” the driver said from the winner’s circle. “Camilla figured it out and she got her back going the way she was supposed to go. She was definitely frustrating for a bit, but it's at least nice to see her get this done tonight.”
Those issues appear to be in the rearview mirror. The filly has stayed flat, and outside of a fourth-place finish on September 9, she has hit the board in five of her last six entering the Grassroots final. The connections considered moving to the Gold division but thought better of it.
“We thought about it, but it was one of those things where it was kind of late and she had done well in the Grassroots, and it was probably an easier spot for her,” Christoforou commented. “Like I said, this filly she has tremendous speed for a piece, but she's very erratic and like I said, it's all Camilla on this one. I'm just a passenger.”
The decision to remain in the Grassroots paid dividends Saturday.
Entering the night as one of the divisional points leaders, the Richard Thompson-bred sophomore lined up in post seven for Christoforou.
When the gate folded, the Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Famer settled in sixth along the pylons as Northern Charlotte and Paul MacDonnell fired from the outside and led the field to a :26.2 opening panel. Soon, second-choice Smashin Raquets and Travis Cullen would brush to the lead, reaching the half in :55.3.
Christoforou liked what he saw playing out on the front end.
"I was hopeful. You know, she's been firing home pretty good lately and the fractions were to her liking, so you never know, but I wasn't disappointed with the fractions, I'll put it that way,” he explained.
Christoforou moved to the outer flow, picking up the cover of Shiny New Penny as Smashin Raquets led the field through the turn and into the stretch.
When Pretty Special kicked off cover in the lane, she left little doubt of the outcome. Sprinting past the group, the filly easily distanced herself from the competition, making it look easy on the way to a lifetime best performance.
The winning margin was five and three-quarter lengths. Smashin Raquets held on late for second, with Sweet Detrmination third.
Pretty Special paid $3.40 while delivering a “special” win for her connections.
Complete results from Saturday’s Grassroots Championships are available here and replays can be viewed on the Woodbine Mohawk Park YouTube channel.
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