by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — With the late scratch of favorite, Chancey Lady, it was Im Just Special’s time to shine tonight at Mohawk. The Camluck lass dominated her six peers in the C$179,300 SBOA Stakes final for 3-year-old pacing fillies, winning in 1:51.3.

Voelz Hanover and Mario Baillargeon rocketed to the early lead in this contest, with Im Just Special parked off the rail in second, not committing to the pocket spot because driver Jody Jamieson had designs on the front. By a :27.0 quarter pole, the pair had cleared, and from that point it was a game of catch me if you can. Steve Condren made a bid as the field paced through a :56.1 half with All Accounted For, but Im Just Special was not to be denied. As they entered the stretch, Jamieson’s filly opened up to a two-length lead and crossed the wire unchallenged, with Voelz Hanover coming home second and Windsong Eva (Jack Moiseyev) scooting up for third.

“This mare was good last week (in the C$140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold final at Mohawk),” said Jamieson. “I thought I had Chancey Lady reeled in down the lane, but I just couldn’t get by her. It made a big difference to have the best filly out tonight.

“I’ve got to say, the Ontario Sires Stakes program has got to be the best program in the whole world,” he added. “This filly started in the Grassroots and it got her bravened up a little. Then we brought her back to the Gold series and she’s been a force to be reckoned with every week. She was a decent filly then, and she’s just gotten better as the summer has worn on.”

Tom Artandi trains Im Just Special for Theodore and Susan Colby of Bronxville, NY. The filly now boasts nine wins in 25 lifetime starts.