Woodbine Mohawk Park: Classy Royale, Willys Home Run tally in OSS Gold Series

Classy Royale and Willys Home Run found the winner's circle in a pair of Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series races for 2-year-old trotting fillies that happened on Thursday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Driven by Jody Jamieson in the first C$103,100 section, Classy Royale took over the top spot beyond the 29 second opening quarter, and after middle-half panels of 59 1/5 and 1:28 2/5, she trotted home in 28 3/5 to defeat early leader Hit The Bank (James MacDonald) by a length in 1:57. Scarlets Melody (Sylvain Filion) checked in third.

"She wanted to go. She was a little bit hot. She's still learning the ropes," said Jamieson. "She's a pretty smart filly, but she's a little bit flightly, like she wants to race. As soon as I got to the lead, she relaxed perfectly and then waited for me to call on her. I was real happy with her."

Trainer Carl Jamieson also co-owns Classy Royale, a daughter of Royalty For Life, with breeder Glengate Farms and their partners Joanne Morrison and Dr. Robert Boyce. She has a win and a second from two starts, has earned C$55,550, and paid $5.60 to win as the favorite.

"I'm trying to keep her good for the Golds," noted Carl Jamieson. "I don't want to race her too much. Eight or nine starts in one year is enough. We're just starting out, but we'll just take our time with them."

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The other C$104,000 test saw Willys Home Run (MacDonald) positioned third at the quarter, which went on the board in 28 seconds, but MacDonald fired her to the outside beyond that marker and moved to the engine prior to the 59 second half-mile point. Willys Home Run continued to show the way through three-quarters in 1:28 and then threw in a 28 second final kicker to win going-away in 1:56. Resolute Lady (Matt Bax) was three lengths back in second after a first-over attempt, and Mass Cara (Trevor Henry) rallied for third.

"She always feels good. She feels super professional," MacDonald stated. "She feels like she just wants to race all the time. I was confident that she'd be good, but you never know, first time on the lead, they can do anything. It was definitely the result we were hoping for."

A full sister (Archangel-Rite Outa The Park) to Canadian record holder Logan Park, Willys Home Run is trained by Kyle Fellows for breeder/co-owner Reg Higgs and co-owners Dr. Sara Gatchell, Jake Higgs and Yolanda Fellows. She has a 1-1-0 record from two appearances, has banked C$56,000, and returned $4.50 to win as the betting choice.