by Mark McKelvie, Woodbine Communications

Milton, Ontario — The first stakes event of the 2018 season at Woodbine Mohawk Park highlighted Saturday’s (May 19) Fireworks and Family Fun Night card.The C$113,792 SBOA Trot and C$115,792 SBOA Pace featured some of the top Ontario sired 4-year-old fillies in the game.

New Image Media photo

Percy Blue Chip wins her seasonal debut at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday.

O’Brien Award winner Percy Blue Chip didn’t let a little stinging in the early going get in the way of adding another trophy to her collection. The Dr. Ian Moore-trained pacing filly made a statement with a 1:51.4 victory in her seasonal debut.

Driver Sylvain Filion was sitting behind Percy Blue Chip for the first time ever in Saturday’s SBOA Stakes and he fired her out from post six towards the lead. Quite A Sight and driver Trevor Henry also blasted from the rail and didn’t let Percy Blue clear without a fight.

Parked by the opening quarter in :26.2, Percy Blue Chip finally cleared at three-eighths and kept on motoring up to the half in :54.1. A :29.3 breather on the final turn sealed the deal, as Percy Blue Chip pulled away from rivals in the lane with a :28 kicker to win by 3-1/4 lengths. Sudden Passing finished second, while Quite A Sight and Play The Bell finished third and fourth, respectively.

“I can tell you right now I like her very much,” said Filion post-race. “It was her first start of the year and we got stung a bit to the quarter, but when she cleared she felt very good and when I asked her around the last turn she just took off.”

A daughter of Shadow Play, Percy Blue Chip won five of nine starts last season, including the Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final, and banked C$440,795 for owners Shadow Two Stable, James & Wilma MacKenzie and Hudson Standardbred Stable Inc. Saturday’s season-debut victory pushes Percy Blue Chip over C$500,000 in career earnings. She paid $3 to win.

The landscape of the SBOA Trot changed drastically prior to the evening’s first race, as Ontario Sires Stakes champion Kadabra Queen was scratched due to sickness. Per Henriksen-trainee Illusioneesta took full advantage of the absence, defeating five rivals in 1:58.1. Chris Christoforou steered the daughter of Kadabra to victory, making a second quarter leap from second to first and never looking back. Illusioneesta trotted home in :28.2 to win by two lengths over Miss Mimi, Apprentice M and Magics Lucky Charm.

Owned by Harbor Racing Stable LLC and Asa Farm, Illusioneesta was winless in 10 starts last season, but did compete in major stakes and banked over C$100,000. The Kadabra filly has discovered the taste of victory this season with now two wins in four starts. Illusioneesta’s career earnings climb to C$178,568 following Saturday’s victory. She paid $3.70 to win.

Saturday’s card also saw a lengthy win streak snapped in the C$34,000 Preferred Pace. Casie Coleman trainee McWicked was large in his season debut, coming first up to win in 1:50.1. Bob McClure was in the bike behind the Casie Coleman trainee.

Easy Lover Hanover, who had won nine in a row, got away second and made a quick second-quarter move to the lead. McWicked charged up to confront Easy Lover Hanover at three-quarters and eventually muscled by in the stretch for the victory. Isitfridayyet got up for second, while Nirvana Seelster just edged out Easy Lover Hanover for third.

Owned by S S G Stables, McWicked came into his season debut off a pair of qualifiers, including a 1:50.3 mile last Friday. The Coleman trainee went 7 for 27 last season and banked nearly C$600,000.

Saturday’s victory was the 23rd overall for the winner of C$2.4 million. McWicked paid $6.70 to win.

Live racing resumes Monday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Post time is 7:30 p.m.