Ron seeks first OSS success in $102,000 division opener

The glamour boys Ontario Sires Stakes Gold season gets underway July 2 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. Ron (Sportswriter), the top Ontario Sired finisher in the Pepsi North America Cup, is looking for his first taste of OSS harness racing success.

Ron will leave from the rail post in the second of two $102,000 divisions for three-year-old pacing colts, where the James Dean trainee will look to build on his fourth-place finish in Canada’s richest harness race.

“He came out of the (Pepsi North America Cup) great, which is really important,” said Dean. “Sometimes you don’t even know if he’s ever raced. You put him out in the paddock and the next day he just takes off running and playing. That horse never has a bad day. He’s always happy and enjoys his work.”

Ron was Dean’s third Pepsi North America Cup starter, but the first for Ron’s owners James and Wilma Mackenzie

“It was a lot of fun,” said Dean. “Usually when you’re going for $1 million there is a bit of stress, but these owners, they take all the stress off you. Their expectations were realistic, and they were happy with the result.”

His $72,000 Pepsi North America Cup cheque was the most Ron has earned in a race to date. He made six OSS starts in 2022, and his best result was a second at the Grassroots level.

Ron’s two-year-old campaign was highlighted by four consecutive wins in the fall, including a sweep of the Ontario Sired Harvest Series at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Jody Jameison will drive him on Saturday for the fifth straight start.

“Jody did a great job in the Cup. He got us the maximum amount of money,” said Dean. “So, I’ll let Jody do whatever he wants. I don’t tell drivers how to drive. I tried to drive before, and I’d be a lot thinner than I am now if I kept with it, because I’d be starving.”

Joining Ron in the second Gold division is Sport Secret, a fellow son of Sportswriter who is making his OSS debut. The colt is out the Mach Three mare My Secret Belle who made four OSS Gold starts in her three-year-old campaign, posting a record of 3-0-1.

Doug McNair will drive the 5-2 morning line favourite for trainer and co-owner Gregg McNair. He drew post six for McNair’s ownership partners Frank Brundle, Jeffrey Skinner, and Ross Holmes.

2021 OSS star Stonebridge Helios (Sunshine Beach) headlines the other Gold division. An O’Brien award finalist at two, he went off-stride in his Pepsi North America Cup elimination. He started his three-year-old campaign with a win in the SBOA Final, and a third-place finish in a division of the Somebeachsomewhere.

He gets a driver and trainer change to Doug and Gregg McNair, after John Fleischman dissolved his ownership partnership last week.

Stonebridge Helios is joined by the other Ontario Sired colt to reach the Pepsi North America Cup Final, Kolby Two Step (Betterthancheddar). James MacDonald will drive him for trainer Tim Gillespie. Gillespie co-owns the gelding with Jason Churchill.

For current OSS Standings, click here.

For complete race entries, click here.

From the Ontario Sire Stakes