MILTON, September 22, 2018 – Even-money betting favourite The Ice Dutchess made every step a sure one on her way to victory in the $385,000 Peaceful Way final on Saturday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Jimmy Takter trainee won in 1:54.2, three open lengths ahead of her nearest rival, Evident Beauty (Dave Miller; 4/1). 51/1 longshot Angies Luckeylady (Trevor Henry) was a distant third. Evident Beauty cut the 27.1 opening quarter after four fillies’ hopes were dashed in the early going. In rein to Yannick Gingras, The Ice Dutchess made front easily by the 57.1 half, trotting past the early leader without a fight and taking command. She led by two lengths over Evident Beauty at the three-quarter pole, reached in 1:26.0, and sustained her reign right to the wire. A late effort from the other elimination winner, Sisters Promise, ended when she broke stride moving from fourth to third in the stretch. John Floren’s Coyote Wynd Farms of Vancouver, British Columbia owns The Ice Dutchess, who was a $320,000 yearling purchase. Floren noted he bought the daughter of Muscle Hill after selling a Muscle Hill colt for the same price. “I said, ‘she’s the nicest filly in the sale, if I get her for $320,000, not a dollar more, I’ll go for it’ and that was my last bid,” said Floren. “You look for these kind of horses your whole career. I’ve been in this sport for 30 years and you get one now and then. I always was patient and always was hopeful and now we have one and we’re going to enjoy every step of the way.” The Jim Doherty Memorial champion has rebounded strongly after consecutive early breaks and distanced finishes in both a Pennsylvania Sire Stakes event at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono and a Champlain Stake division at Woodbine Mohawk Park last month. The Ice Dutchess is undefeated since the addition of trotting hobbles, which trainer Takter remarked upon from the winner’s circle. “I think she will grow out of that…I think she will be better without that,” said Takter, who feels The Ice Dutchess has another step to take. “I don’t think she is quite ready…I don’t feel that she’s really there yet.” Takter has now won three-consecutive Peaceful Way finals, having captured the last two editions with Manchego and Ariana G. Dr. Cal and Angie Stiller, the breeders and former owners of Canadian Hall of Fame trotter Peaceful Way (inducted 2008), presented the namesake stake’s trophy to the winning connections. The Ice Dutchess paid $4 to win. Share This:Share
