Fillies impress in OSS bonanza

Eight groups of two-year-old harness racing fillies began their Ontario Sires Stakes careers on Thursday (Jul. 13) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, highlighted by two Gold trotting divisions worth a combined $207,100.

Classy Royale (Royalty For Life, Jody Jamieson) secured control in the second panel captured the first Gold split. He withstood the late hustle of Hit The Bank (James MacDonald) to score in 1:57. The latter was a length short after sitting the pocket. Scarlets Melody (Sylvain Filion) was a narrow third over Valuable Miss (Trevor Henry).

CLASSY ROYALE REPLAY

Classy Royale, trained by Carl Jamieson, finished second in her debut on Jun. 23 and is now one-for-two. She was sold for $27,000 at the Lexington Select Sale. Jamieson co-owns the filly with Glengate Farms of Erin, Joanne Morrison of Beeton, and Robert Boyce of London.

Willys Home Run (Archangel, MacDonald) took the second division going away. On the lead from three-eighths, she was locked in battle with Resolute Lady (Matt Bax) entering the stretch. Resolute Lady was bearing down, but Willys Home Run brushed her off and streaked to victory in 1:56.

Resolute Lady finished three lengths behind but was well clear of the rest. Mass Cara (Henry) was third.

WILLYS HOME RUN REPLAY

It was a maiden-breaking victory for Willys Home Run, who took second in a closing effort in her debut on Jul. 6. The Robert Kyle Fellows trainee has now earned $56,000 for Strathroy residents Dr. Sara Gatchell, Jake Higgs, and Reg Higgs, and N. Yolanda Fellows of Rockwood.

There were also six divisions of the Grassroots first leg for freshman pacing fillies. Resilience (Jimmy Freight, Louis-Philippe Roy) dominated the first field, winning by eight lengths in 1:52.2. It’s a Love Thing (Bettors Delight, MacDonald) prevailed by a nose over Betterwithglasses (Henry) in the second group in 1:55.1. Collusion Hanover (Bettors Delight, Roy) captured the third, a length-and-a-half to the good in 1:55.1. T H Jackies Legacy (Bettors Delight, Travis Cullen) narrowly won the fourth division, holding off Sporty Liz (Tyler Jones) by a head with another 1:55.1 clocking. Grannys Watching (Hes Watching, Jonathan Drury) was the fifth winner of the leg in a three-horse photo in 1:53.1. Right Match (Sportswriter) snagged the final contest, forging to the top late to score by a length in 1:54.4.

The next Gold leg for the two-year-old trotting fillies is set for Jul. 27 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The pacers will contest their second leg on Jul. 22 at Hiawatha Horse Park.

There’s another card full of Ontario Sires Stakes action set for Friday, Jul. 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. It will feature another six Grassroots divisions and two Golds.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink