Ontario sired fillies star in Shes A Great Lady elims

CAMPBELLVILLE, August 29 – Thatsoveryverynice and L A Delight continued their respective hot streaks with harness racing victories in the She's A Great Lady eliminations Saturday night at Mohawk Racetrack.

A group of 12 two-year-old pacing fillies were split into a pair of six-horse $35,000 eliminations. The top-five finishers from each elimination punched their ticket to the final, while the winners also earned the right to select their post.

In the first split, Thatsoveryverynice went gate-to-wire with ease to score her fourth win of the season.

Driven by Jody Jamieson, Thatsoveryverynice, the 1/5 faovurite, stepped out to the front without any challengers and posted an opening-panel of :28.4. The daughter of Vintage Master went unchallenged through the middle-half panels of :58.1 and 1:26.3 before pacing home under no urging in :27.4 for a 2½ length 1:54.2 victory.

Upside Surprise finished second, while JK Fannie rounded out the Triactor. Albany Girl and Highland Rocksolid also secured spots in next week's final.

A Tony Alagna trainee, Thatsoveryverynice entered her elimination off a comfortable victory in the Eternal Camnation Stakes. Following the race, Jamieson noted that his filly got the job done easily once again.

"Didn't even have to pull the plugs tonight and she was very strong," said Jamieson. "Each time I drive her she gets more impressive and tonight was no exception. Slow fractions, but to have no one around her and to be able to pull away under minimal urging and then shut her down halfway down the stretch, I mean I don't think she could be coming into the final in much better form."

Thatsoveryverynice increased her earnings to over $142,000 for owners Alagna Racing LLC. and Marvin Katz with the victory. A $2 win ticket on the Alagna rookie paid $2.50.

Thatsoveryverynice

L A Delight extended her win streak to seven with a 1:54.2 victory in the second elimination.

The Bob McIntosh trainee got away third with driver Randy Waples, while Blue Moon Stride posted fractions of :28.2 and :57.4. Around the final turn, Waples sent the 1/5 favourite first up, as the field paced by three-quarters in 1:26.1.

In the stretch, L A Delight quickly paced by Blue Moon Stride and cruised home under minimal urging to win by a length and a half over a hard-closing Darlinonthebeach.

Three Dreams finished third, while Blue Moon Stride and Ivy League rounded out the top-five to advance to the final.

Following the race, Waples noted that McIntosh made an equipment change heading into this week's start.

"Bob added them (earplugs) this week…I said to him last week after I raced her that she was just maybe getting a little bit warm compared to what she had been and he said okay no problem. He goes out changes her equipment, takes a filly that hasn't been beat (in five-starts) and makes her better. That's Bob McIntosh."

A daughter of Bettor's Delight, L A Delight is owned and bred by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings. The rookie pacer now has seven wins in eight starts and earnings of over $178,000.

L A Delight paid $2.50 to win.

L A Delight

The post positions for next Saturday's (September 5) $455,000 final were drawn following the eliminations.

$455,000 Shes A Great Lady Stakes Final

PP/Horse

1. Three Dreams

2. Albany Girl

3. Thatsoveryverynice

4. L A Delight

5. Upside Surprise

6. Darlinonthebeach

7. Highland Rocksolid

8. Ivy League

9. JK Fannie

10.Blue Moon Stride

AE: Show Time Hill

Mark McKelvie