Awesome Hill looks for another awesome effort in Niagara Final
At 1h29, on December 26, 2021 • By WOODBINE MOHAWK
Chantal Mitchell is willing to wait until Boxing Day to see if Awesome Hill can put a bow on the Niagara Pacing Series’ final.
Trained by Mitchell for owner/breeder Tom Hill, Awesome Hill will go after her third straight score and the biggest win of her career in the $33,600 Niagara.
The daughter of Sunshine Beach-Taxi Fare Hanover arrives at the final off a pair of impressive efforts in the $18,000 opening legs of the series for three-year-old pacing fillies that are non-winners of $60,000 lifetime as of October 31.
“She was training really well and then she hurt herself,” started Mitchell. “So, that’s why she missed some more time. We started her back and all these series popped up that she happened to fit. She’s kind of had a very rushed schedule, so I’m very happy with the progress that she’s shown over a short period of time.”
On December 10, Awesome Hill, who was ahead by 2 ¼-lengths at the stretch call, carved out a final panel in :26.4 en route to a 1 ¼-length triumph in 1:54.,1 in an opening division of the Niagara.
One week later, she was 5 ¾-lengths on top at the stretch pole, going on to post a 1 ¾-length victory in 1:53.1, a personal-best mark.
Mitchell was impressed by both performances.
“She got home really well in both races. This past race, when she stepped away from them in the last turn, Dougie [McNair] said, ‘I just spoke to her and she was off.’ She was opening up on them, and she was just gearing down as she was crossing the wire. That was nice to see.
Awesome Hill will now face nine rivals in the final, slated as race 10 on Sunday’s 13-race afternoon card, with the first post set for 1:00 p.m.
