MILTON, Ont., Oct. 12, 2024 – Pepsi North America Cup winner Nijinsky made amends for a disappointing showing in the Little Brown Jug with a 1:50.3 win in Saturday’s $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final for three-year-old male pacers at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but he had to prove himself amid an unduly eventful journey.
After Louis-Philippe Roy floated Nijinsky into fourth in pursuit of 69-1 pacesetter Unrivaled Hanover and then angled him second-over on the backstretch, his cover — Century Komodo — locked on a line and faltered sharply, causing Nijinsky to check and enabling Unrivaled Hanover and Jonathan Drury to scamper four lengths clear on the far turn after being pushed through a :54 first half.
“I had no choice but to go three-wide on the last turn,” said Roy. “JD’s [Jonathan Drury’s] horse was making open lengths on us, so I had to make him work a little earlier. At first, JD was going good fractions up front, the only way I could have him beat was to put him into a crazy half.”
After getting around Century Komodo, Nijinsky took second with just over a quarter to go, and Unrivaled Hanover, who hit three-quarters in 1:21.2, began to shorten strides off the turn for home. Nijinsky collared him at the eighth pole and was urged to win by a widening 1-1/4 lengths in 1:50.3. Best Night Ever rallied boldly from deep in the field to nab Unrivaled Hanover for runner-up honours.
“I was worried that something was going to happen, but he seemed fine and Louis said he was great,” said trainer Anthony Beaton. “I wish we had a little easier trip, but he raced tremendous. It seems like he’s back, and hopefully we can look forward to the Meadowlands (for the Breeders’ Crown eliminations) next week.”
This season, Nijinsky has won 10 of 12 races and banked over $1.24 million for West Wins Stable, John Fielding and Mark Dumain.
As the 1-4 favourite, he returned $2.50 to win.
FEATURED PHOTO: Nijinsky winning the 2024 OSS Gold Super Final race for three-year-old pacing colts on Oct. 12, 2024 at Woodbine Mohawk Park (Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
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