Superb start for Righteous Resolve in $103,100 OSS Gold

MILTON, JULY 6, 2023 – Star harness racing filly Righteous Resolve (Resolve) made her seasonal debut tonight at Woodbine Mohawk Park in the second of two $103,100 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold divisions for three-year-old trotting fillies with an impressive off the pace score.

When the wings rolled in race eight the trio of Stonebridge Bravo, Mass Hysteria and Believe You Me took turns up front early, leading the field through opening fractions of 26.4 and 55.3 while James MacDonald settled Righteous Resolve back in fifth.

Doug McNair moved Baroness Hill to the front through three quarters, but Righteous Resolve proved too strong, finding cover in the third panel and trotting home in 28 to win by a head in 1:53.

“James is a pro. He knows how to campaign the horse and take care of them if you can,” said trainer Matt Bax. “There were hot fractions early and he was smart enough to take it easy. He’s maybe got some ice water in his veins where he can sit chilly back there, I was sweating though.”

Righteous Resolve was ready to go earlier in the season, but a combination of wildfire smoke related postponements of both OSS Gold Legs and a sickness meant this was her first pari-mutuel start since the Breeders Crown last fall.

“That’s just the way it worked out,” said Bax. “But I think she is going to be better for it. It meant she had a lot of time to get better after the sickness and train up. It worked out tonight.”

The filly’s OSS record improves to 5-1-0 in six starts, including a victory in last year’s Super Final.

Her overall mark is 9-1-1 in 11 career starts with over $675,000 on her card for owners Bet Max Stables Inc. and Benenati Inc. Her win paid $2.50.

Baroness Hill continues her strong season with the runner-up finish. Chantal Mitchell trains the Kadabra filly for owner Tom Hill. She now has a record of 3-1-0 from seven starts in 2023.

Stonebridge Brave finished third for trainer Dagfin Henriksen who was also behind the horse. It’s her second career on the board finish in the OSS for owner Alan Janik.

The first OSS division was in race three and trainer-driver Paul MacDonell piloted Muscling Vegas to her third win of the season and first career OSS victory.

MacDonnell and the daughter of Muscle Mass left well from post six, beating Wedding Dancer and Enola to the early lead and trotting fractions of 27.2, 56.2, and 1:24.3, on route to a new lifetime mark of 1:53.1.

“She can make a driver look pretty good,” said MacDonnell. “She’s push button at all times. She’s so smart, and she’s just a pleasure to have in the barn.”

Lightly raced as a two-year-old after developing some soreness, Muscling Vegas has come back strong as a sophomore.

She won the SBOA Final earlier this year, and was a runner-up to Baroness Hill in a Gold division on June 16. Her overall mark on the season is 2-4-1 with $176,440 on her card and over $75,000 in the OSS for owners Chris and Michael Storms.

“Her honesty is going to take her so far,” said MacDonnell. “She wants to trot. She wants to give you what she has every night, and you can’t ask for anymore in a racehorse than that.”

Muscling Vegas paid $6.90 for the win.

Doug McNair and Wedding Dancer chased Muscling Vegas around the track from second the entire way around and finished three lengths back when the wire came.

The Tony Alanga trainee is a J L Benson Stables Inc. homebred, and it was the biggest score to date for the Muscle Mass filly who doubled her career earnings to $49,400 in her OSS debut.

Rounding out the podium was Enola who continues to improve for trainer Keith Jones. A Grassroots horse as a sophomore, the Resolve filly has stepped up to the Gold level in her sophomore season and has finished second and third through two Gold Legs.

Her OSS efforts have netted owner Douglas McCarthy $35,694 to bring her seasonal total to over $64,000. Tyler Borth was in the bike tonight.

For complete OSS standings, click here.

For complete race results, click here.

by Austin Stanton, for the Ontario Sires Stakes