MILTON, October 15, 2022 – Cheesy Smile was the leading point earner in the two-year-old pacing filly division this season and she kept her name at the top of the list with a resounding win in the $225,0000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Super Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
“I thought I had the best filly in the race. I’m happy that she’s the one coming home with me,” said trainer and co-owner John Pentland.
As the race got underway it was Savethelastdance and James MacDonald rocketing from post 10 to the lead and opening up several lengths on the field as they passed the opening marker in 26.1.
MacDonald was just a passenger as the Bettors Delight miss hit the half in 53.4 and the three-quarters in 1:22.
Sitting patiently in sixth at the half with Cheesy Smile Bob McClure rolled his charge out before the three-quarter pole and down the stretch the wicked fractions took their toll on Savethelastdance allowing fresher fillies to pounce. Cheesy Smile took full advantage and hit the wire first in 1:51.1 and paid $4.40 for the win.
“I felt she was the best coming in. (She has) a high turn of speed, I don’t think there’s one, speed wise, that can go with her,” said McClure. “John’s just kept her so good and she was peaking. She’s also a sweetheart to drive, I like that.”
Big Big Plans closed well to take second with Freshen Up third. Savethelastdance held on for fourth with Lyons Bettorday collecting the final cheque.
Cheesy Smile improved her summary to 5-2-0 in 10 freshman starts and upped her earnings to over $316,000 for Pentland and partners Cindy Molyneux (Sparta, Ont,), Peter Charlton (St. Thomas, Ont.) and Archie Leach (London, Ont.).
“One thing about her, you don’t have to worry about being too far back because of her high turn of speed,” said Pentland. “When they were blazing fractions (early) that just couldn’t have worked out any better.”
Winning Connections for CHEESY SMILE: L-R: Rhonda Charlton, Pete Charlton, Cindy Molyneux, John Pentland, Sherri Sumner, Rob Molyneux
The filly was second in her last time out at the Gold level and showed well against open stakes competition at Mohawk in September.
“I was expecting a good performance. Who knows how the race sets up, anything can happen,” said Pentland. “I’ve had a lot of disappointments in the Super Finals over the years so this is maybe a little vindication. It felt awfully good.”
The win will cap off the freshman filly’s campaign.
“That’s it,” said Pentland. “She wasn’t paid into the Breeders Crown, so we’ll call it a season. She’s going away healthy; we couldn’t be happier about that.”
Pentland’s co-owners were at the racetrack in matching Cheesy Smile t-shirts and it was a thrill for the group to experience stakes success for the first time as owners.
“It’s been wonderful from the start when we bought her in Harrisburg,” explained co-owner Charlton. “We all went down with John and picked her out. It’s just so satisfying to see it all come to fruition tonight. It’s just a wonderful ownership group. We couldn’t ask for anything better and John as the trainer has been a dream come true.”
They have been at the track for all of her races this season and had steady nerves for the big night.
“I wasn’t that nervous tonight because I know John’s going to have her ready,” said Charlton. “He talked all week about how she’s peaking at the right time. I was confident, more confident tonight than any other race.”
Bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock of New York, Cheesy Smile sold for $38,000 at last year’s Harrisburg sale. She is the fourth foal from her dam, Frame Worthy, who is a daughter of the $1.2 million winner Hana Hanover.