Rookie filly home in :26 on debut

A blistering final quarter highlighted the four fields of two-year-old harness racing prospects on Thursday at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Cheesy Smile (Betterthancheddar, Bob McClure) produced a :26 final quarter to rally from sixth at the top of the stretch and score on her pari-mutuel debut against fellow two-year-old pacing fillies in 1:56.4.

Cheese So Pretty (Betterthancheddar, Trevor Henry) finished a length-and-three-quarters back in second. Grammys Girl (Big Jim, Sylvain Filion) was third.

The winner returned $33.80.

CHEESY SMILE REPLAY

The $38,000 Harrisburg purchase is out of Art Major mare Frame Worthy, who produced Andra Day and Moaning Lisa. John Pentland of London, who trains the filly, co-owns her with Cindy Molyneux of Sparta, Peter Charlton of St. Thomas, and Archie Leach of London.

Righteous Resolve (Resolve), a full sister to Duly Resolved, was the first winner of the evening. Paul MacDonell shifted her third-over from sixth on the backstretch, and the filly unleased a :27.1 final quarter to sweep past all five rivals in front of her to score in 1:59.3.

Sweet Determination (Lookslikeachpndale, Louis-Philippe Roy) claimed the lead in deep-stretch but was caught by three-quarters of a length. Heavens Fury (Muscle Mass, McClure) finished third.

The winner provided a 13-1 upset.

RIGHTEOUS RESOLVE REPLAY

Righteous Resolve is a homebred for Bet Max Stables of Casco and Benenati Inc. of Clinton Township. John Bax trains the filly.

Miss Brickley (A Rocknroll Dance) slingshotted off a pocket trip to capture the first two-year-old filly pace in 1:55.3 for Jody Jamieson. She held off Birdie Three (Sportswriter, Austin Sorrie), who closed in :28.1 final-panel speed but missed by a neck.

Storybook Bella (Sportswriter, Doug McNair) was third. Favourite Freshen Up (Bettors Delight, James MacDonald) had the fastest last quarter of :28 but could only get up for fourth.

The win price was $17.50.

MISS BRICKLEY REPLAY

Gary Hodgson of London owns and trains Miss Brickley, who was making her second career start after a third-place finish on Jun. 17. She’s the latest foal and second winner in six offspring for Electric Yankee mare Two Jacks.

Starlight Dancer (Artspeak) was the fastest rookie of the day. Jonathan Drury put her in front with a quarter pole pocket pop, and the filly converted the move into a 1:54.2 win. She paced the final split in :27.2.

Miss Canada (State Treasurer, Filion) finished second by a length-and-three-quarters. Big Big Plans (All Bets Off, Henry) took show.

It was the only instance of a favourite winning among the four two-year-old races, paying $3.70.

STARLIGHT DANCER

Starlight Dancer, a Melissa Lamoureux trainee, is a homebred for 1187422 Ontario Inc. of Ottawa. She is the first winner for dam Thorne Seelster, a daughter of Artistic Fella.

Three groups of freshmen highlight the Friday, Jun. 24 card at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The first bunch starts the evening’s action at 7:00 p.m.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink