Fillies to battle in $205,000 Ontario Gold Friday

MILTON, ON – MAY 31, 2023 – Cheesy Smile (Betterthancheddar) will try for her second consecutive harness racing stakes win as sophomore pacing fillies take centre stage Friday (June 2) night at Woodbine Mohawk Park with over $205,000 in total purses split across in two Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold divisions.

The 2022 Super Final winner won her last start, the $129,500 SBOA Final by sitting off a hot early pace, and despite being stuck in traffic was able to close from sixth at the three-quarter pole to win by nearly a length.

“I was really impressed. She closed from kind of a hard spot,” said trainer John Pentland. “She was caught in a bad spot and to be able to win that race from there, that was a big win.”

Her late charge down the lane was a typical finish for Cheesy Smile. She has six career wins and has never been higher than third heading into the final quarter mile. She was fourth as the field entered the stretch in her Super Final win.

“That is her style. She is a closer,” said Pentland. “She has a real kick, and she can carry it for at least a quarter of a mile. Sometimes it works out great, and she’s second or third over and she is right there within striking distance, and sometimes it doesn’t.

Last year Cheesy Smile was a force to be reckoned with in the OSS. She was 4-2-0 in six OSS starts and earned $291,525 against provincial competition.

On Friday at Woodbine Mohawk Park, she’ll face a stout field including two-time OSS winner Big Big Plans.

“Freshen Up is also racing really good, and so is Savethelastdance,” said Pentland. “Savethelastdance is a big threat all the time. She has so much talent.”

Bob McClure is driving Cheesy Smile from post two in the $102,200 sixth race.

Race four is the other OSS Gold division, and it features the SBOA runner-up Lyons Bettorday (Bettors Delight).

Lyons Bettorday freshman highlight came in the final Gold Leg which went for the maximum amount of $159,000 and she paced a mile in 1:52.1 to take home the winner’s share of the purse. Her overall OSS record was 1-1-2 to earn nearly $140,000.

Anthony Beaton trains the filly for owner Threelyonsracing. Louis-Philippe Roy will drive from post five.

The morning line favourite in race four is Ruthy B, who is making her SBOA debut for Gregg McNair. McNair co-owns the filly with Grand Slam Stable and his son Doug will be in the racebike.

For complete OSS standings, click here.

For complete race entries, click here.

From the Ontario Sire Stakes