All eyes were on the heavy 1/9 favourite L A Delight in Thursday night's final of the Whenuwishuponastar Series at the harness racing meeting at Mohawk Raceway and she did not disappoint.
The Bob McIntosh trainee cruised to victory over five other rookie pacing fillies in 1:53.4 to take the $36,800 series finale.
Driven by Randy Waples, L A Delight, who won the second leg of the series, made a second-quarter move to the lead to grab the front from round one winner Shes Lights Out.
After posting a half of :58, L A Delight was challenged first up around the final turn by 24/1 shot Bad Lightning and the fillies dueled by the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1.
In the stretch, Bad Lightning was no match for the heavy favourite, as L A Delight pulled away from her challenger and cruised home easily in :27.3 for the 4 ¼ length victory.
Bad Lightning turned in a good effort to finish second, while Shes Lights Out was third.
"It looked like that (a training mile), but you take them however you get them," said Al McIntosh, co-owner of L A Delight following the race.
"We are very pleased with the way she's coming now and it looks like better things could be ahead."
A daughter of Bettors Delight, L A Delight is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings.
The rookie pacing filly now has four wins from five starts this season for earnings of $70,080
L A Delight is eligible to the upcoming Eternal Camnation and Shes A Great Lady Stakes and McIntosh indicated that both are likely on the horizon for the filly along with Ontario Sires Stakes action.
A $2 win ticket on L A Delight returned $2.10.
Also on Thursday night, the first round of the Define The World series was contested for two-year-old trotters.
A field of eight competed in the $12,000 first leg of the three-week series event.
Blenheim was sent off as the 3/5 favourite for trainer/driver Per Henriksen and the veteran conditioner sent the son of Yankee Glide to the front.
The public's choice got to call the shots in the middle-half posting panels of :59 and 1:28.1.
In the stretch, Brad Maxwell trainee Bucketlist Hanover and driver Randy Waples shot up the rail from fourth to overtake the lead from the heavy favourite.
Stablemate Deep Impact also had plenty of trot on the far outside to set up a tight finish between the Maxwell trainees.
At the wire, Bucketlist Hanover prevailed by half a length over Deep Impact for an 11/1 upset.
Lean Hanover rallied for third, while Blenheim finished fourth.
A son of Cantab Hall, Bucketlist Hanover was making his career debut Thursday evening and is now one for one for owners Van Camp Trotting Corp. and Maxwell.
The rookie trotter was purchased for $11,000 as a yearling at last year's Harrisburg Sale.
A $2 win ticket on Bucketlist Hanover returned $24.60.
The second leg of the Define The World will take place next Thursday (August 13).
Mark McKelvie