October 9, 2024
By Ontario Sires Stakes Communications
They say that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but sometimes those first impressions really do tell you everything you need to know.
Such as the case of Chantilly (Big Jim), the two-year-old filly pacer who has been every bit as dominant as she looked like she would be when she first began training.
“When I first got her down in the training facility, I would say she stood out from the rest of the horses. She was just built a lot different,” said Chantilly’s trainer Nick Gallucci. “She’s just developed into a fine-looking racehorse at this point. Nothing’s really changed with her physically.
“I would say, obviously, being in training and racing, she’s muscled up and is a lot fitter looking, but she’s always just been a very well put together animal.”
Chantilly’s been as dominant a rookie pacer as you’re going find anywhere, going a perfect 8-for-8, highlighted by a score in the $532,000 She’s a Great Lady Final and going a perfect 5-for-5 in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series races, including the $150,000 Mid-Season Final. She’s 25 points clear of second-place rookie pacing filly Wickedpace (McWicked) in the OSS leaderboard and has already earned $611,000 in total season earnings, with $272,500 coming from OSS winnings alone.
Heading into Saturday’s Gold Super Finals, the Millar Farms (Stouffville, Ont.) homebred is the heavy favourite and anything short of a victory will be a disappointment.
“She’s passed every test so easily, so I expect her to be great,” said Chantilly’s driver James MacDonald of what he believes we’ll see from Chantilly Saturday. “I expect her to do everything she’s done so far and more”
Added a slightly more cautious Gallucci: “The pressure builds every week. I feel like as long as she races as she has been then it would be hard to see her get beat, but that all comes down to her. She’s got to maintain, and she’s got to stay at that level. Week-to-week a lot of things can change. At this point I’m pretty comfortable, but a lot of things can change and we’re just hoping she stays on her game.”
Blessed with quick feet and a great mind for racing, Chantilly has all the tools needed to win at the highest level, and so far has proven herself able to do just that. Saturday is expected to be yet another feather in her cap as her connections eye bigger challenges heading into her sophomore year.
“A horse like her that shows quick speed dominates [as a two-year-old], but when it comes to the three-year-old year, the horse has got to be a lot more versatile and a lot more durable,” said Gallucci. “So, we’re going to stake her as heavy as we can, we’re going to make sure she’s in the Breeders’ Crown, make sure she’s in a few races in the States, but we’re going to stick mostly to Ontario if we can.
“But we’re going to make sure she has a heavier schedule next year and barring anything unforeseen happening, we’re hoping we can make a few more Stakes races with her.”
For a horse with as much talent as Chantilly has shown, those next steps will be of great interest to watch.
FEATURED PHOTO: Chantilly winning the Shes A Great Lady Final on Sept. 21, 2024 at Woodbine Mohawk Park (Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
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