The Caretaker, Chantilly and a Cherished Connection

MILTON, March 18, 2025— Every time caretaker Candace Nivins and the imperturbable filly step out of the Woodbine Mohawk Park paddock and into the spotlight of the racetrack, they share an unspoken understanding of what that moment represents.

“She is the only horse that has ever showed me, ‘If you get me ready, I will take it from here,’” said the 27-year-old Nivins.

In her nine lifetime races, the undefeated Chantilly has delivered on her promise, impressing her connections: owner and breeder George Millar, trainer Nick Gallucci, and Nivins.

A daughter of Big Jim-Shiraz Seelster, marked by dark spots on her white hind pasterns, Chantilly has been flawless since her emphatic 4 ¾-length debut victory on July 9, 2024, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Sent off at 2-5 in an Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Grassroots Series leg, she paced the mile in 1:54.0. Chantilly came into the race off one qualifier, a 1:59.4 mile on June 28 at Mohawk.

One week later, Chantilly rallied from fifth at the half to win by 2 ½ lengths in 1:50.4, pacing the final quarter in :26.1 in her OSS Gold final.

Those performances left Nivins nearly lost for words.

“After the qualifier, I was blown away,” she recalled. “When there was no second qualifier and she debuted in the Grassroots, I was speechless. Then, after her Gold win, I was at a loss for words again.”

Nivins never saw it coming.

Fate played a part in bringing the pacer and caretaker together.

“I didn’t meet Chantilly right away,” recalled Nivins. “When she came down from the broodmare farm, she wasn’t assigned to me. Her groom left about two or three months before her career began, and that’s when Nick knew I had an open spot and gave her to me.

“She would sleep a lot. She was just very quiet. She wasn’t finicky at all. I had never had a horse who was so straightforward and easy to work with.”

Nivins, who has worked with several standout horses in the Gallucci barn over her four years as a caretaker — including Silver Label, Velvet Stinger, Power Train, Chain Gang, Win Me Back, and Bettorbuckleup —soon realized by the year’s end just how special Chantilly is.

After her two OSS crowns, Chantilly won her next seven starts, capped off by a 6 ½-length triumph in her season-closing OSS Gold Super Final event. Other wins included the $532,000 Shes A Great Lady final and the $110,000 Eternal Camnation final.

She went off as the mutuel choice in all nine races. Three of the victories came from post eight. Her purse earnings totaled $761,000.

At the 36th O’Brien Awards, Chantilly was named Canada’s Two-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year and Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Year. She became just the fifth two-year-old — and only the third pacing filly — to be named Canada’s Horse of the Year, joining Emilie Cas El, Whenuwishuponastar, Somebeachsomewhere and JK Shesalady.

Chantilly’s on-track success helped Millar Farms earn its third Armstrong Breeder of the Year award and the title of leading owner at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Gallucci won his first Trainer of the Year title, while James MacDonald, who drove Chantilly in all her victories, earned his fourth consecutive Keith Waples Driver of the Year award.

“Honestly, I never saw this coming,” said Nivins. “‘Tilly’ never shows anything during training. If the other horses went slow, she did too. It wasn’t until the first Gold race that I thought, ‘Wow… she’s something special.’ This has all felt like a dream.”

A most unexpected one for Nivins.

“When I was in college, I did a job placement for a week or two. I became good friends with (longtime harness participants) Heather and Ken Hofacker. I finished my schooling, had one caretaker job with a different breed that didn’t work out and then moved on to work for a dairy farmer. I saw a post online for the groom job with Nick and Millar Farms, so I reached out to Heather, and she said they are awesome people and it’s a great place to work.”

That was something she discovered early on.

“You fall into a rhythm, and you watch these horses grow and develop. You see the horses gain confidence and you do the same. I had a very good first year, the second year was even better, the third year topped that and here we are.”

Where it leads and what comes next for Chantilly is to be determined.

On March 10, it was announced 69 three-year-old pacers have been nominated to this year’s $1 million North America Cup (G1) at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The 42nd edition of Canada’s most prestigious harness race is set for June 14.  

The headliner of the impressive list of Cup nominees is Chantilly. She is believed to be the first filly ever nominated to the North America Cup. 

“I try not to think too far ahead,” said Nivins. “I’m excited, but I prefer to take things day by day with her. If she races in the Cup, it would be an amazing story and fantastic publicity for our sport… but it wouldn’t change how I feel about her. She’s a confident horse, and if she does race, I know she’ll make us all proud.

“After every win last year, the superstitions and holding your breath start setting in. It’s why I like to live in the moment with her and any of our horses.”

When Chantilly does make the first start of her sophomore season, Nivins, who lives on the Millar farm, knows what to expect as the minutes before post time tick down.

“In the paddock, I’m a mess and she’s as cool as can be. She’s chilling, just hanging out, I have my music playing, trying to drown everything out and stay focused.”

Then, just as they’ve done nine times before, Nivins and Chantilly will walk together, both understanding the unspoken bond they share.

“Just before I let her go, she gives me a sense of calm. She is telling me, ‘Don’t worry… I will take care of you for this part, and you take care of me for the other parts.’”

Chris Lomon, Woodbine Mohawk Park