The decision is in for undefeated pacing filly Chantilly (Large Jim).
Chantilly (New Picture Media Picture)
After months of deliberation, proprietor George Millar of Millar Farms has determined that his 2024 Somebeachsomewhere Horse of the Yr sophomore pacer will enter the 2025 Fan Hanover Stakes to race towards females.
She was the primary harness racing filly made eligible to race towards male rivals within the 2025 Pepsi North America Cup and ranked extremely in all of the polls heading into June.
The entry field closes for the 2025 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations and the 2025 Fan Hanover eliminations on Tuesday, June 3 at 10:30 a.m.
In a dialog on Monday morning, Millar informed Trot Insider that whereas he’s assured his secure star could be ultra-competitive within the 2025 Pepsi North America Cup whereas racing towards the boys, quite a lot of elements went into his determination to go for the fillies and the Fan Hanover — whereas additionally noting that race is not going to be a cakewalk by any stretch of the creativeness.
“With this group, we haven’t seen the perfect horses up right here but,” mentioned Millar, confirming quite a lot of conversations relating to this subject with each coach Nick Gallucci and common driver James MacDonald. “I’ve received a sense [the Pepsi North America Cup final] may go in 1:47 and alter, and I’m not saying she couldn’t go together with them, however I simply don’t suppose I actually suppose I need to push her that onerous.
“I’ve been within the horse enterprise lengthy sufficient; in the event you push them proper to their most restrict, generally they race nice and so they don’t actually come again,” continued Millar. “It’s a protracted season. I simply want this race was simply coming, you understand, possibly a few weeks from now so she had a pair extra begins below her belt…as a result of that first begin actually didn’t inform me something and the second begin made me marvel.”
A daughter of Large Jim – Shiraz Seelster, Chantilly has gained all 11 of her on-track appearances, banking $897,796 whereas sporting a lifetime mark of 1:49.4, taken in her most up-to-date begin.
“I hope I don’t disappoint too many individuals,” added Millar, cognisant of the chatter he and his confidence created. “It has been thrilling. The mare is only a particular mare, and I believe she actually deserves it…It simply appears I wouldn’t make that clever of a call.”
From Standardbred Canada














