Adare Castle set to return in $157,200 OSS

When Adare Castle (Muscle Mass) arrives at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, June 6 to take on seven others in a $157,200 Gold division for three-year-old harness racing trotting fillies, it will be her twelfth career start. She has nine wins and two seconds for trainer Mark Etsell.

Etsell co-owns Adare Castle with Robert Newton, Graham Hopkins, and Peter Porter.

“These horses come along once in a lifetime,” said Etsell. “We’re very appreciative of what we’ve got. Everyone who owns her is retired or at least over 60, and they are just having a ball and loving every second of it.”

In two starts this season, she won her Standardbred Breeders Association of Ontario Elimination and powered to a five-length romp in the Final with James MacDonald piloting her to a mark of 1:53.2.

“She’s come back really well. She’s a little bigger, a little thicker, and a little stronger,” said Etsell. “I didn’t know if that kind of speed would be there yet, but she was sharp, and James said she was good, so he let her roll a bit.”

James will be in the race bike Monday night, leaving from post five, with another MacDonald in the paddock as part of the Adare Castle team, her groom Ashley MacDonald.

“Ashley does a really good job of keeping her calm and entertained,” said Etsell. “(Adare) Castle doesn’t like to stand still a lot. In between trips you can see Ashley walking her around the paddock very diligently and keeping her focused. She’s a big part of her success.”

The seven other fillies in the field include Grace (Merchandiser) who handed Adare Castle one of her two losses last year, and Saundra (Resolve) the runner-up in the SBOA Final.

“Everyone in the field is a high calibre of horse,” said Etsell. “It’s a horse race and anything can happen, so you never get ahead of yourself. You take it one race at a time and hope your filly shows up, and that’s all you can do”

Grace made six OSS starts in 2021, posting a record of 1-1-1. Owned by fractional group, TheStable, she drew post four Monday night for trainer, Jason McGinnis with Anthony MacDonald driving.

Saundra is a half-sister to gelding R First Class, who won the OSS Super Final as a three-year-old in 2017. The filly is making her OSS debut from post seven with trainer Benoit Baillargeon tipping Sylvain Filion to drive.

Rounding out the contenders is Mischievous Rose, a Muscle Mass filly who earned over $125,000 in the OSS last year for owner Determination. Bob McClure gets the drive for trainer Luc Blais, leaving from post two.

For current OSS standings, click here.

For complete race entries, click here.

From Ontario Racing