Milton, ON — Grace Hill, sent off as the 4-5 choice, was simply spectacular in the C$220,000 Milton Stakes, for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Saturday night (Sept. 16) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Off since a snappy 1:49.4 score at Scioto Downs on Aug. 25, 5-year-old Grace Hill paced back in the spotlight under the bright lights at the Milton oval off a pair of qualifiers and delivered one of the finest performances in her decorated career.

Grace Hill was simply spectacular in the C$220,000 Milton Stakes. New Image Media photo.

Boudoir Hanover, leaving from the outside post nine, blasted off the wings and crossed over to grab a short-lived lead into the first turn, but Silver Label forged on to seize control just before an opening panel timed in a lively :25.4. Doug McNair, in rein to Grace Hill, sized up the pacesetter from in third.

It was Silver Label still calling the shots on the front end through a half-mile in :54.1, followed by Boudoir Hanover, Grace Hill and Prohibition Legal. McNair then tipped out the daughter of Always B Miki-Western Silk, and set their sights on Silver Label, inching closer with every step to the outside. A neck on top at three-quarters in 1:21.3, Grace Hill was in full flight as the field straightened for the drive home.

Ahead by 1-1/2 lengths at the stretch call, the Breeders Crown winner bounded home in :26.2 to notch a comfortable two-length triumph in a time of 1:48. Prohibition Legal was second, Boudoir Hanover, at 65-1, was third and Mikala was fourth.

“She’s a fun mare to drive, she’s just like driving a sports car,” lauded McNair. “I drove (Silver Label) last week, and she got beat by her stablemate from off her helmet, so I figured if I didn’t put mine on the front in a big hurry with her, she can sprint as fast as anything. When you’re first-up against a great mare on the front with a real nice one on my back, it wasn’t the ideal spot, but she made it look pretty easy.

“I maybe just raced her wrong a couple times at The Meadowlands, she finished second and third. To be honest, I think she races better chasing. She won one time sitting last at the head of the stretch coming a :25 final quarter. It’s just tough to take your chances that way and run into traffic. Tonight, we got to sit quite a way and when I moved her, she was really good.”

Owned by Tom Hill, it was the latest victory for the bay, who now boasts a 27-10-5 record, including six wins from seven appearances at Mohawk, from 57 starts, to go along with over C$1.7 million in career purse earnings.

“I don’t know if she just loves Canada or not, but she sure feels like a different horse on this track,” noted McNair. “She seems to not get tired and she’s a lot of fun.”

The well-travelled mare, trained by Virgil Morgan Jr., is now 8-2-1 from 11 starts on the campaign.

Bred by White Birch Farm, Grace Hill, a $75,000 purchase at the 2019 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, paid $3.60 for the win.