Bettors Delight progeny sweep second OSS Gold leg

MILTON, July 21, 2023 – Its A Love Thing won the second harness racing dash tonight (Jul. 21) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, a $102,200 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold division for two-year-old pacing fillies, beginning a sweep for sire Bettors Delight of the second freshman pacing legs.

James MacDonald kept Its A Love Thing  off the pace set by leader Resilience (Jimmy Freight) out of post two through fractions of 27.1, 57, 1:25.1, and was in fourth at the three-quarter pole.

In the far turn, Douglas McNair pilots Blazing Belle (Bettors Delight) into second to challenge Resilience and driver Louis-Philippe Roy, but Resilience remains in front.

Then in deep stretch, Its A Love Thing came flying and they were two across at the line with Its A Love Thing crossing the wire first in a time of 1:52.3.

“I think it takes a little more trust in the horse, its like a partnership out there. When I went to move her off cover, Trevor’s horse drifted out and she overreacted and went two, three wide,” said MacDonald. “I just tried to make sure I didn’t run up on someone before I moved her, maybe give her a little bit of extra room, because she likes doing her work.”

The filly has an OSS Grassroots win in her previous start collecting $62,400 OSS earnings this year for owners Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, and Joshua Green.

“I had it in the back of my mind for sure, and I think the more she races and the more times I sit behind her she’ll maybe learn to trust me and maybe not do it anymore.”

Its A Love Thing’s win paid $27.80, but it was something trainer David Menary knew she was capable of.

“She was my favourite all winter. I want her to be known for being a good racehorse not for having one eye, so that’s the game plan. All winter long she should’ve trained with older horses not babies,” said Menary. “She had a couple bumps in the road, I thought she was a gold filly all the way along, things are headed in the right direction and hopefully they keep heading that way.”

The second-place finish for Resilience collected $24,017 in earnings. The Eric Nadeau trainee is owned by Louis-Philippe Roy, Ecurie Francis Richard Inc, Ecurie Csl and Weaver Bruscemi Llc.

Also a Bettors Delight filly, Blazing Belle trained by Gregg McNair, collected $11,528 in earnings for owner James Avritt.

Menary touched on Its A Love Thing and her being a strong contender.

“She just goes fast easy, she’s big. I’ve never had any real good big Bettors Delight, all my good ones were small, but they’re always tight at the wire.”

A full card of racing Friday contained a busy OSS night.

In race three, the second OSS Gold division of the night, has Do Better (Bettors Delight) with his third straight win for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings.

The third OSS Gold division of the night was race six on the card, and Odds On Platinum (Bettors Delight) driven by Sylvain Filion came away with the win. A successful night for Filion with back-to-back OSS wins on the night.

In the fourth and final OSS Gold division and the seventh race, favourite Mirage Hanover (Bettors Delight) won his first OSS Gold with driver Bob McClure. Pacing colt Mirage Hanover wins in a time of 1:50.4 becoming the fastest North American two-year-old of 2023.

For two-year-old pacing filly OSS Gold standings, click here.

For two-year-old pacing colt OSS Gold standings, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Kara Martin, for Woodbine Entertainment