MILTON, July 21, 2023 – Its A Love Thing won the second race tonight at Woodbine Mohawk Park, a $102,200 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies.
James MacDonald kept Its A Love Thing (Bettors Delight) off the pace set by leader Resilience (Jimmy Freight) out of post two through fractions of 27.1, 57, 1:25.1, and was in fourth at the three-quarter pole.
In the far turn, Douglas McNair piloted Blazing Belle (Bettors Delight) into second to challenge Resilience and driver Louis-Philippe Roy, but Resilience remained in front.
Then in deep stretch, Its A Love Thing came flying and they were two across at the line with Its A Love Thing crossing the wire first in a time of 1:52.3.
“I think it takes a little more trust in the horse, its like a partnership out there. When I went to move her off cover, Trevor’s horse drifted out and she overreacted and went two, three wide,” said MacDonald. “I just tried to make sure I didn’t run up on someone before I moved her, maybe give her a little bit of extra room, because she likes doing her work.”
The Bettors Delight filly had an OSS Grassroots win in her previous start and has collected $62,400 OSS earnings this year for owners Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, and Joshua Green.
“I had it in the back of my mind for sure, and I think the more she races and the more times I sit behind her she’ll maybe learn to trust me and maybe not do it anymore.”
Its A Love Thing’s win paid $27.80, but it was something trainer David Menary knew she was capable of.
“She was my favourite all winter. I want her to be known for being a good racehorse not for having one eye, so that’s the game plan. All winter long she should’ve trained with older horses not babies,” said Menary. “She had a couple bumps in the road, I thought she was a gold filly all the way along, things are headed in the right direction and hopefully they keep heading that way.”
The second-place finish for Resilience collected $24,017 in earnings. The Eric Nadeau trainee is owned by Louis-Philippe Roy, Ecurie Francis Richard Inc, Ecurie Csl and Weaver Bruscemi Llc.
Also a Bettors Delight filly, Blazing Belle trained by Gregg McNair, collected $11,528 in earnings for owner James Avritt.
Menary touched on Its A Love Thing and her being a strong contender.
“She just goes fast easy, she’s big. I’ve never had any real good big Bettors Delight, all my good ones were small, but they’re always tight at the wire.”
A full card of racing Friday made for a busy OSS night.
In race three, the second OSS Gold division of the night, Do Better (Bettors Delight) won his third straight.
The third OSS Gold division of the night was race six on the card, and Odds On Platinum (Bettors Delight) driven by Sylvain Filion came away with the win. It was a successful night for Filion with back-to-back OSS wins on the night.
In the fourth and final OSS Gold division and the seventh race, favourite Mirage Hanover won his first OSS Gold with driver Bob McClure. The Bettors Delight colt won in a time of 1:50.4 becoming the fastest North American two-year-old of 2023.
Do Better and Sylvain Filion on July 21, 2023 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. (New Image Media)
Mirage Hanover driven by Bob McClure to become the fastest North American two-year-old of 2023. (New Image Media)