Woodbine Mohawk Park: Daya, Cher Hill successful in OSS Gold Series

Daya and Cher Hill converted from the pocket to post victories in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series action for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Daya posted a 1:49 1/5 career-best mile and upset eight-time Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold champ A Clean Deal in the lone $150,000 OSS Gold Leg 4 event for pacers. The mile was one-fifth of a second off equalling the OSS record set by Boadicea in 2019.

Sent off as the 7-2 second choice in the short field of five, Daya (Bob McClure) chased down A Clean Deal (Doug McNair) in the stretch and won by a head over the latter for owner, breeder and trainer Jack Darling of Cambridge, ON.

Daya led the field through the 26 3/5 opening quarter, but relented to 1-5 favorite A Clean Deal before the 54 4/5 half. McNair kept A Clean Deal on the lead through the 1:23 three-quarters, but, in the lane Daya sprinted past in deep stretch to record her second Gold victory of the year.

In the stretch, McClure appeared completely calm and confident that Daya was going to win.

"I wasn't as confident as him," Darling told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis. "But when Bobby came out of that hole, he just sat there like a Sunday drive. He looked like he knew what was going to happen."

Pownal Bay Bobbi (James MacDonald) was two lengths back in third, followed by Lavender Seelster (Todd McCarthy) and Artistic Delight (Phil Hudon).

Daya paid $9.30 to win.

Daya, a daughter of Bulldog Hanover out of Beach Of A Time now has lifetime earnings of C$713,500 and C$560,914 this year. She is 7-9-1 in 21 career starts and 2-5-0 in nine 2026 outings.

"She's been good all year, and she raced big last week," Darling said of Daya's second-place finish in a C$50,000 3-year-old filly open at Woodbine Mohawk Park. "It was a heartbreaker when she got beaten in 1:48 4/5. I would have loved to have that mark, but getting 1:49 tonight sure helps."

In previous Gold Series action in the division:

A Clean Deal and Daya won their respective Leg 1 Gold divisions on May 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A Clean Deal was the winner of the lone Leg 2 Gold division on June 26at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

A Clean Deal also won the lone Leg 3 Gold test on July 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

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Cher Hill posted her first Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) victory of the season, winning the lone C$150,000 OSS Gold Leg 4 event for trotters in a career-best 1:52 4/5.

Sent off as the 7-2 third choice in the field of seven, the daughter of Muscle Mass out of Lauramarie Hill defeated 1-2 favorite Blue Jean Gal (James MacDonald) by two lengths.

Todd McCarthy drove Cher Hill to victory for trainer Gregg McNair and owner/breeder Tom Hill. McCarthy gave Cher Hill a pocket trip behind second choice Bingo Night (Tyler Jones) through fractions of 27 1/5, 57 2/5 and 1:25 2/5 before taking control of the race before the top of the stretch and holding off a late charge from Blue Jean Gal in the lane.

"I just kind of cautious, just edging her out in the turn, and then when she straightened and I asked her to go on, she gave me a really good kick," McCarthy told Woodbine broadcaster John Rallis. "I was still nervous about James on my back there, but the way that [Cher Hill] kind of accelerated at the top of the stretch, I thought that he was going to have to be pretty good to get by tonight. She held up a sprint really well all the way to the line. So full credit to Gregg and having her spot-on."

Flowing Tribute (Tyler Borth) was third, followed by Satu Wania (Travis Henry) and Me Laurel (Mark MacDonald). Bingo Night faded to last.

Cher Hill paid $9.60.

The victory improved Cher Hill to 6-1-3 in 18 career starts and upped her lifetime bankroll to C$279,274. The trotter is now 3-1-1 in eight starts this year with earnings of C$148,437.

In previous Gold Series action in the division:

Blue Jean Gal and HP Crystaline won their respective Leg 1 Gold divisions on May 24 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Bingo Night and TH Trix R Forkids won their respective Leg 2 Gold divisions on June 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Blue Jean Gal and Lo And Behold won their respective Leg 3 Gold divisions on July 12 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

--press releases (Ontario Racing)--