Ontario Sires Stakes record performance on 50th anniversary night

Its A Love Thing (Bettors Delight) fittingly produced a historic harness racing performance in her $140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold victory at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Saturday (May 26) as the track celebrated the 50th anniversary of the provincial program.

The filly came to the outside from seventh on the final turn and advanced third-over before uncorking a huge stretch charge. She rocketed to the front with a :26.1 final quarter and went clear of Odds On Platinum (Sylvain Filion) by a length to tie the Ontario Sires Stakes record for a pacing filly of 1:49. Odds On Platinum finished second with Lightning Lizzie (Brett MacDonald) closing for third.

ITS A LOVE THING REPLAY

It’s A Love Thing, an O’Brien Award finalist last year, is now eight-for-15 lifetime with $707,656 in earnings. She won the SBOA Stakes last out and has won two straight. Dave Menary trains the filly for Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Joshua Green, and Rich Lombardo Racing.

Convoy Hall (Muscle Mass) took the first division for three-year-old trotting males, cutting the mile for Filion in 1:52.3. Myretirementdream (Trevor Henry) chased him home after going first-up on the last turn but missed by three-quarters-of-a-length. Willowtime (Bob McClure) was third.

CONVOY HALL REPLAY

The winner has won seven of eight career starts, sustaining his first loss on May 11 in the SBOA Stakes. It was a new lifetime best for the Bob McIntosh-trained gelding, who has earned $144,300. Robert McIntosh Stables shares ownership with Douglas John McIntosh, Randy Liepa, and Beverley Snobelen.

Griff (Muscle Mass), who defeated Convoy Hall in the SBOA Stakes, took the second division for colt and gelding trotters. He closed down Ways N Means (Doug McNair) from a gapped pocket and got up by a neck in the stretch duel to prevail in 1:53.2. Captain Wania (Henry) closed to within a length while taking third.

GRIFF REPLAY

The win was Griff’s fifth lifetime in nine tries, and it boosted his total earnings to $332,700. The Murray Brethour trainee won two OSS Golds last season and was second in the Super Final. Breeders Jeff and Lori Thomson co-own the gelding with Brethour and Kyle Northover.

Trophy Taker (All Bets Off, MacDonald) upset at 10-1 in the first pacing male division in a tough effort.

He was shuffled to fourth after an early move to the front but re-emerged first-up entering the homeward bend. The gelding continued to grind down the stretch and reached past Storm Shadow (McClure) late for the 1:50 score. Unrivaled Hanover (Jonathan Drury) completed the ticket.

TROPHY TAKER REPLAY

It was Trophy Taker’s first win of the year and a lifetime-best performance. Menary conditions the gelding for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino, and Lawrence Karr. The three-year-old’s lifetime tally sits at three with a bankroll of $106,138 from 13 outings.

Nijinsky (Bettors Delight, Louis-Philippe Roy) defeated SBOA Stakes winner Funtime Baytama (Filion) in the second split. The latter led from three-eighths with the former in the pocket until Nijinsky emerged at the top of the stretch. He hunted down Funtime Bayama for a half-length victory in 1:49.4 with Do Better (MacDonald) five lengths back in third.

NIJINSKY REPLAY

Nijinsky is unbeaten in two starts in 2024, already passing his two-year-old win total of one in 10. Tony Beaton trains the sophomore colt, now with earnings of $156,862, for West Wins Stable, John Fielding, and Mark Dumain.

The OSS Gold series continues on May 27 at Woodbine Mohawk park with the first leg for sophomore trotting fillies.

Taurasi (Racing Hill, McNair) took the night’s $36,000 Preferred-Handicap Pace to extend his winning streak in Canada’s top overnight pacing level to 11. He marched to the top in the first quarter and maintained his lead to the finish, reaching home with a length-and-a-quarter to spare in 1:48.3. Saulsbrook Victor came home quickest to snag the place spot over Dupree Hanover (MacDonald).

TAURASI REPLAY

Taurasi has won nine of 10 starts this year with his only loss coming in the Pacey Mindlin Invitational. He hasn’t lost a Preferred since his first start after moving to Woodbine Mohawk Park and the Richard Moreau barn in December. The five-year-old has amassed 21 wins and $579,759 in earnings from 41 lifetime starts. Brad Grant and Alagna Racing own the gelding.

The final race on the card saw the fastest mile in North America on a two-turn track so far this season. Blue Hunt (Huntsville) brushed on the backside and flew to a four-and-a-half-length triumph in 1:47.4 with Travis Cullen in the bike, knocking nearly four seconds off his previous mark.

BLUE HUNT REPLAY

The Jodie Cullen-trained four-year-old started in several stakes races last season, including the Little Brown Jug final. Daguet Racing, Donald MacRae, and Stephen Klunowski own the gelding. Ruthless Hanover’s 1:47.1 win at Harrah’s Philly, a five-eighths-mile track, remains the fastest time of the year overall.

MacDonald ended the night with four wins, all of which came in Golds.

Racing continues at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Monday, May 27. The 11-dash offering, beginning at 7:10 p.m. EDT, features the aforementioned Gold leg and a $36,000 Preferred Trot.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink