Cher Hill posted her first Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) victory of the season, winning the lone $150,000 OSS Gold Leg 4 event for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday (Aug. 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in a career-best 1:52.4
Sent off as the 7-2 third choice in the field of seven, the daughter of Muscle Mass out of Lauramarie Hill, defeated 1-2 favourite Blue Jean Gal (James MacDonald) by two lengths.
Todd McCarthy drove Cher Hill to victory for trainer Gregg McNair and owner/breeder Tom Hill. McCarthy gave Cher Hill a pocket trip behind second choice Bingo Night (Tyler Jones) through fractions of :27.1, :57.2 and 1:25.2 before taking control of the race before the top of the stretch and holding off a late charge from Blue Jean Gal in the lane.
“I just kind of cautious, just edging her out in the turn, and then when she straightened and I asked her to go on, she gave me a really good kick,” McCarthy told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis. “I was still nervous about James on my back there, but the way that [Cher Hill] kind of accelerated at the top of the stretch, I thought that he was going to have to be pretty good to get by tonight. She held up a sprint really well all the way to the line. So full credit to Gregg and having her spot on.”
Flowing Tribute (Tyler Borth) was third, followed by Satu Wania (Travis Henry) and Me Laurel (Mark MacDonald). Bingo Night faded to last.
Cher Hill paid $9.60.
The victory improved Cher Hill to 6-1-3 in 18 career starts and upped her lifetime bankroll to $279,274. The trotter is now 3-1-1 in eight starts this year with earnings of $148,437.
In previous Gold Series action in the division:
- Blue Jean Gal and HP Crystaline won their respective Leg 1 Gold divisions on May 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
- Bingo Night and TH Trix R Forkids won their respective Leg 2 Gold divisions on June 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
- Blue Jean Gal and Lo And Behold won their respective Leg 3 Gold divisions on July 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.