Better B Bold soars to statement $157,200 OSS Gold win

MILTON, October 5, 2023 – Better B Bold (Betterthancheddar) won the sixth harness racing contest tonight (Oct. 5) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, a $157,200 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold division for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

Bob McClure kept Better B Bold off the pace out of post five through fractions of 26.1, 54.3, and 1:22.2, to sit in seventh.

As the field entered the stretch, Louis-Philippe Roy pilots Verdun (Bettors Delight) into third while Better B Bold and McClure move to the outside.

In deep stretch, Verdun moved to the lead, but it wasn’t enough as Better B Bold came flying home to cross the wire first in a time of 1:51.

Whatchulookin At (Hes Watching) and driver Doug McNair completed the podium in third.

“Sitting back in seventh, I didn’t think I was in a winning spot, I just wanted to sit and be as patient as I could,” said McClure.

Better B Bold picked up his second OSS Gold win of the season and the biggest cheque of his career for co-owners Mark Steacy, David Reid, Landmark 15 Racing Stable, and Bc Reichheld Stables.

The Betterthancheddar colt has made $213,706 over the course of his career and $143,656 in OSS earnings this year.

Shawn Steacy is the trainer.

The second-place finish for Verdun collected $36,942 for owner Roland Trudel and has $84,983 in OSS earnings this year.

The Bettors Delight colt is trained by Jean Tourigny.

Whatchulookin At, trained by Gregg McNair, has collected $56,631 in OSS earnings this year and has made $280,211 over the course of his career.

McNair is a co-owner of the gelding with Jim Newton, Bloomingwood Farms Ltd, and Paul Kidd.

Better B Bold’s upset Gold win paid $16.40.

“He’s a very fast horse, so when the race is set up for him, he usually comes through,” said McClure.

The Super Finals will be the last of the OSS Gold action which will be held on Friday, October 13, and Saturday, October 14, at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

For complete race results, click here.

by Kara Martin, for Ontario Racing