Always B Miki 3YOʻs impress in Grand Circuit races
3-year-olds by Always B Miki starred at the Woodbine Mohawk Park Grand Circuit meeting yesterday, with the highly promising colt Christchurch taking out the first of the North America Cup eliminations and last seasonʻs US and Canadian 2YO Pacing Filly Sylvia Hanover comfortably claiming a Fan Hanover Stakes elimination.
The Nancy Takter trained Christchurch had big wraps on him coming into the North America Cup eliminations, after an impressive sub 1:50 seasonal debut last month, and the colt was sent out as the second favourite behind the recent New Jersey Sires Stakes Final winner, and son of champion NZ pacer Lazarus, Voukefalas.
Driven by star kiwi reinsman Dexter Dunn, Christchurch sat third on the rail before moving up to sit parked at the three-quarter pole.
The big son of Always B Miki easily accounted for the leaders in the straight but then had to withstand a late challenge from Voukefalas who sprinted home strongly after having gone off stride at the first turn, with Christchurch prevailing by a head.
It was Christchurchʻs fourth win and his winning time of 1:48.8 a career best.
The regally bred colt is out of the millionaire Somebeachsomewhere mare Darlinonthebeach.
The reigning Dan Patch and OʻBrien 2YO Award winner Sylvia Hanover continued her domination of Canadian stakes races, powering to a two and a quarter length 1:49.4 win in the second Fan Hanover elimination despite sitting parked for much of the trip.
The Shawn Steacy trained filly has now won 10 of her 11 starts and banked $931,800 in stakes earnings.
A half-sister to the $2 million earner Western Fame, Sylvia Hanover is out of the Artiscape mare Shyaway.
It was another daughter of Always B Miki that impressed the previous day at Woodbine, with the 2022 Mares Open Breeders Crown winner Grace Hill defeating NZ mare Amazing Dream in a Roses Are Red elimination.
It was Grace Hillʻs 23rd career win and took her lifetime earnings to $1,312,630.