Joe Hudon, Canada’s O’Brien Award winner as Horseman of the Year two decades ago, showed he still has the touch tonight at Mohawk, winning the second and fastest of two $105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies with a filly he trains, owns and bred.
In that division longshot Jokes Jet was the quickest away hitting the first quarter in :26.4. She was overtaken by favourite Alibi Seelster who paced by the half in :56.2 and soon had pressure from Sectionline Aqua who was at her saddle pad at the three-quarters in 1:24.4.
Alibi Seelster hung tough down the lane but four wide and flying was My Secret Belle and Hudon who hit the wire first in 1:53.1. Jakardez, Sectionline Aqua and Alibi Seelster were tight at the wire in that order.
It was the first OSS start in My Secret Belle’s career. The daughter of Mach Three had just two starts last year as a rookie and this year had raced strictly in overnight races on the WEG circuit up until tonight. This was her third win in 15 starts this campaign and put her sophomore earnings at $98,000.
From Hudon’s mare Kindly Jenna, the filly is a half-sister to $403,000 winner This Is Wyatt.
In the first division Truth Is Big left hard for Luc Ouellette to grab the early lead and get by the first quarter in :27. She wasn’t on top long though as Doug McNair had Performing Art up to take over but she was quickly passed by race favourite Lady Shadow who hit the half in :56.1 and the three- quarters in 1:25.
Flying up three wide from the back of the field was Sudoku who sailed by to win in 1:53.3 for James MacDonald after being eighth at the three-quarters. Lady Shadow held for second with Brookdale Shadow taking third.
It was the first start of the season for Sudoku, a daughter of Badlands Hanover trained by Tony Sullivan for owners Let It Ride Stables, Mentally Stables and Dana Parham of Florida and Howard Taylor, Pa. Let It Ride and Mentally Stables also bred the talented performer.
Last year at two Sudoku earned in excess of $166,000 from just seven starts. She captured two Gold events as a freshman. Sudoku is the first foal of the $513,000 winner Mind Boggling. MacDonald was honoured following the race for reaching a milestone of 1,000 career wins last night at Georgian Downs.
The next Gold event for this group is scheduled for August 4 back at Mohawk. To view the complete results from tonight’s card, click Mohawk Results – June 23.