AUGUST 21, 2016 – Ontario's talented three-year-old pacing fillies were the featured performers on the second half of Rideau Carleton Raceway's Family Day double header Sunday and the harness racing distaffers delivered impressive efforts in three Ontario Sire Stakes Grassroots and two Gold Series divisions.
Goodwill Hanover posted the fastest mile of the evening in the first $105,000 Gold division, going gate-to-wire in 1:51.3. Lay Lady Lay pressed the pace through the middle stages of the race, but had to settle for second, one and one-quarter lengths behind the winner. Fan favourite Mayhem Seelster was right behind Lay Lady Lay in third.
"This is the first time that, in the year or so that we've had her now, that she's gone away from home, if you like, to a race at a different track other than Mohawk, or a local track, and so we were concerned about that," said trainer Dr. Ian Moore about his cantankerous filly. "But she trucked down with Doyle Transport in a box stall, and she was pretty good, they were watching in the camera, and she's been pretty good all day. She didn't quite eat all her lunch, but not bad, so anyway we're all very happy."
Paul MacDonell of Guelph, ON piloted Goodwill Hanover to her first Gold Series win of 2016 for Moore and owners GLB Stable of Lakeview, NS. The win boosts the Big Jim daughter's sophomore record to four wins and one second in 11 starts for earnings of $203,469.
In addition to the long trip away from home, Moore also spent some time worrying about a change in Goodwill Hanover's routine that saw MacDonell handle all the filly's on-track warm-ups Sunday.
"I was in Trois-Rivieres today with Rockin In Heaven in the Prix D'Ete, so I just made it here in time for the race, just got here about a minute to post," said the trainer, who alerted the filly's caretaker Vicki Paulic once he realised he would not make it to Ottawa in time. "Paul got along excellent with her and Vicki, she's done a heck of a job with her."
The Guelph resident also handed credit for the filly's victory to owners GLB Stable, who remained stalwart while Goodwill Hanover struggled to find the winner's circle in July and August.
"The owners of Goodwill Hanover have been great, Karl, Stephen and Deanna Tufts and Start Rath, the GLB Stable, they've been fantastic," said Moore. "I was telling them all the options for trucking her down here and they said, well the best option is to truck her in a box stall with Doyle's and we'll pay for the whole truck, so you know, I like to see them rewarded for doing that. It makes me feel good that we, meaning the mare and all of us, can give back to them for all their support."
Next up on Goodwill Hanover's schedule is the Simcoe, back at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 3, and she will wrap up her regular season Gold career at the Campbellville oval on Sept. 30. Sunday's win should assure the filly of a berth in the season ending Super Final on Oct. 15, where Moore hopes she can give reigning division champion L A Delight a run for her money.
"There's only one of those (Gold) left and then hopefully the Super Final and, of course, L A Delight is going to be tough as nails, there's no doubt about that, but you know if this mare acts well and everything goes good for her maybe we'll give her a run," mused Moore. "I don't know, we'll see what happens."
L A Delight extended her two-year Gold Series unbeaten streak to nine with a victory in the second $105,000 division at Rideau Carleton on Sunday. The Bettor's Delight daughter and regular reinsman Randy Waples took control of the race before the half and were easy one and one-half length winners over Divas Image and Bourbon Seelster in 1:52.
Milton resident Waples piloted the heavy favourite to her fifth sophomore victory for trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor and his partners Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington, ON and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH. The win pushed L A Delight's career earnings to within $2,000 of the $1 million mark.
In Grassroots action Glorious Delight kicked things off with a 1:54 victory that saw her step out of the pocket in the stretch and reel in pacesetter Heavenly Bet. Westsluckycam earned the third-place finisher's share of the $18,000 Grassroots purse.
Campbellville resident Mike Saftic piloted Glorious Delight to the win for trainer Dustin Jones of Waterdown, ON and owner-breeder Emerald Highlands Farm of Mount Vernon, OH. The win was the Bettor's Delight daughter's second of the season and her first in Grassroots competition.
Windsun Glory captured the second Grassroots division, capping off a successful night for driver Doug McNair, who recorded three wins, two seconds, one third and two off the podium results from eight drives on Sunday evening. A patient steer saw Windsun Glory sprint by the leaders to her 1:53.1 victory, besting Bernadette and Golden Idol by two lengths.
"She raced good," said McNair. "She loves a trip like that – leave, sit and get through late."
McNair drove the Mach Three filly to her third Grassroots win for trainer Murray Brethour of Sunderland and his partners Windsun Farm Inc. of Uxbridge, Kevin McKinlay of Holland Landing and Jim Fielding of Toronto, ON. Through 18 starts Windsun Glory now has six wins, two seconds, three thirds and earnings of $88,092.
The final Grassroots trophy was awarded to fan favourite Noone To Depend On, who cruised along on the front end to a three length victory in 1:54.1. Killean Finale and Diamond Tested finished second and third.
Jody Jamieson of Moffat drives the Santanna Blue Chip daughter for his father, trainer Carl Jamieson of Rockwood, and sister, Brandy Jamieson of Milton, ON. Noone To Depend On has been completely dependable in the Grassroots this season, scoring three wins and one third for a total of 162 points, good enough for top spot in the division standings with one regular season event remaining.
"She's a real nice filly," said driver Jamieson. "She's making a mint racing in the Grassroots circuit. It's just too bad there aren't more Grassroots Series races left."
The Grassroots fillies will wrap up their regular season at Clinton Raceway on Sept. 4. The top 20 point earners through the six regular season events will advance to the Sept. 16 Semi-finals at Mohawk Racetrack, with the top five finishers from each Semi-final competing in the $50,000 Grassroots Championship at Mohawk on Sept. 24.
Ontario Racing