White Becomes Her took down heavy favourite Muscle Babe with an impressive performance in the second of two $105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies tonight at Mohawk. Margie captured the other division. Both winners are daughters of Angus Hall.
With regular driver Mario Baillargeon at the lines White Becomes Her grabbed the early lead and took the field by the first quarter in :27.3. James MacDonald pulled Muscle Babe, who came into tonight’s contest riding a three race winning streak, out from third and quickly trotted up to take control of the front well before the half reached in :57.4.
White Becomes Her sat in second until just before the 1:27.4 third panel where Baillargeon pulled her out and asked her for speed and she certainly responded, getting by the leader in quick fashion and opening up to win by six lengths in 1:55.4. Muscle Babe held for second while Riveting Rosie took third.
It was the second straight victory for White Becomes Her who won a Gold division in this group’s first 2014 event on June 16 also at Mohahwk. Baillargeon’s brother Ben trains the filly with the distinctive white blaze on her face for owner Vince Mastrangelo of Brampton, Ontario.
Bred by Peninsula Farm and Valley High Stable, White Becomes Her is the fourth foal from a half-sister to one of Angus Hall’s most successful daughters, Elusive Desire, a winner of $1.3 million during her career.
In the first test favourite Miss Liv changed up her usual racing style and was aggressive going to the front for Baillargeon and obtained the lead from Margie before the opening quarter in :27.3 and continued on top through the half in :56.4.
Just before the three-quarters reached in 1:26.3 Sylvain Filion pulled Margie out from her spot along the rail behind the leader to challenge. Margie collared Miss Liv in mid stretch and opened up to win by two lengths in 1:56.1. Mayberry closed well to grab second while Tosca took third. Miss Liv and Sweetie Hearts collected the final two cheques.
Trained by George Ducharme, Margie improved her 2014 summary to 3-1-1 in six starts this year and upped her earnings to $80,000 so far in 2014. Ducharme, who captured last year’s Hambletonian with Royalty For Life, shares ownership of the filly with Paul Fontaine, Jim Winske and Michael Winters.
The next Gold test for these distaffers is slated for August 13 at Grand River Raceway. To see the complete results from tonight’s card, please click Mohawk Results – July 3.