Simply The Best was just that, scoring an easy victory in the $75,000 Ontario Sire Stakes (OSS) Grassroots 3-Year-Old Filly Pace final on Saturday night (Sept. 27) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Driver J.R. Plante left from post 5 in the 10-horse field and settled the Eric Nadeau-trained Simply The Best into the 3-hole as Macapelo Seelster (driven by Tyler Borth) led the field past the quarter in :25.4.
Plante gave the sophomore daughter of All Bets Off—Sauble Claire her marching orders just past the three-eighths and Simply The Best cleared the lead before the half, which went in :54.3.
Early pocket-sitter All My Wishes (Travis Cullen), who was shuffled to third when Simply The Best took the lead, moved off the pegs just past the half to make her move, but could apply only token pressure on the leader as they approached three-quarters in 1:22.4.
Once the field straightened up at the top of the lane, Simply The Best drew clear of the field in a dominant performance.
“She felt really good around the last turn,” Plante said after the race. “When Travis [Cullen] was beside me, she felt really good. She swelled right up and then she did the rest herself. She was super good.”
Simply The Best scored by 3¼ lengths in 1:51.1 over 2-1 second choice Sugar Pie Honey (James MacDonald), who rallied through the stretch. Laydee Freight (Phil Hudon) finished third.
This was Nadeau’s first win in a Grassroots final.
“It feels amazing for the first time and especially this filly,” Nadeau said. “I credit the trainer that brought her to race… we kind of swapped with another filly from a Quebec sire. So, he gave me this one and I gave him mine.
“[Simply The Best has] always been sharp, like aggressive, a little bit more than you want, but it’s a good thing once they are a fighter. Like, last week, she fought the other horse coming by. So, I like that kind of attitude.”
This was Simply The Best’s fifth win in 14 starts this season and it marked Plante’s first win in a Grassroots final.
‘It means a lot [winning a Grassroots final],” Plante said. “It’s super exciting to be in those kind of races and having a live one like that is even better. Super good.”
Bred by Lynne D. Bowen of London, ON, Simply The Best, who sold for $7,000 at the 2023 London Classic Yearling Sale, is owned by Aurel Harvey Et Fils Inc, of Riviere-Malbaie, QC.
Sent off as the 8-5 favourite, Simply The Best returned $5.50 to win.