Woodbine Mohawk Park: Freshmen trotting fillies rise to the occasion in OSS Gold Series

Two-year-old filly trotters Queens Of Bs, Verily and Rebel Moon won their respective C$66,666 divisions of the first leg of their Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series on Sunday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Queen Of Bs, trained by Matt Bax for owner Brad Grant, kicked things off with a gritty score in the first OSS Gold dash on the 12-race card.

It was 46-1 outsider Simea who seized early command in the seven-horse field and proceeded to open up a sizable lead in the early going. Queen Of Bs settled into second, followed by Song From Heaven and Cold Breeze, as Simea marched through an opening quarter in 27 4/5.

Simea continued to lead the way through half in 58 4/5, as Louis-Philippe Roy, at the controls of Queen Of Bs, kept close tabs on the pace-setter before moving to the outside to engage her rival into the turn for home. Simea, with Bob McClure in the race bike, repelled that initial challenge as Roy tucked his charge back along the rail ahead of three-quarters in 1:27 2/5.

A host of rivals then came calling in early stretch as a game Simea looked to fend off her foes. Roy and Queen Of Bs wrestled the lead away in the late going, only to have a hard-charging Major Contender announce her arrival in the final strides. At the wire, Queen Of Bs held on for a nose win in 1:55 1/5. Major Contender was second, Simea was third and Cold Breeze finished fourth.

The daughter of King Of The North out of the Conway Hall mare Win Missy B arrived at her second start off a runner-up effort in her debut on June 26 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

"This filly, since day one, she wants to do it and she definitely has the talent," said Bax. "We added a head pole - she's just so green. You could see that tonight. She is just going to get better as the year goes on as she figures out racing. But right now, she has a nice kick going home.

"It was pretty close. I didn't think that she had it but thank goodness she did."

Bred by Winning Key Inc., Queens Of Bs was a $140,845 (CDN) purchase at the 2025 Harrisburg Sale. She paid $9.70 for the win.

Four races later, Verily, trained by Meg Crone for W.J. Donovan, put on a platinum debut performance in her OSS Gold division.

Northernlights Glo blasted off the wings to take the early lead, followed by Fleetwood Dancer, Flawless Lady and Karma Queen.

It was Northernlights Glo leading the way through an opening quarter in 28 1/5, but the lead was short lived, as Flawless Lady, who left from the outside post eight, marched on to take over the proceedings, while Louis-Philippe Roy, piloting Verily, kept a patient hand with his rookie pupil, the pair sitting sixth. Flawless Lady held a 1 1/2 length advantage through a half in 58 3/5, while Verily remained sixth. Roy then followed the cover of Outlast, and the duo began to pick up outside momentum heading into the turn for home.

Fifth and rolling after three-quarters in 1:27 4/5, Verily was a menacing four-wide presence in mid-stretch, but needed to collar Northernlights Glo, who had retaken the lead with about 100 yards left to the finish line. A relentless Verily was able to get the measure of Northernlights Glo in deep stretch, bettering her game rival by one length for the win in 1:55 2/5, powered by 26 4/5 final quarter. Fleetwood Dancer was third and Flawless Lady finished fourth.

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Bred by Overseas Farms Ltd., the daughter of Muscle Mass out of the E L Titan mare Yen arrived at her OSS Gold engagement off a pair of qualifiers at Woodbine Mohawk Park, including a 1:59 3/5 mile - she was second - on June 26.

"I was very happy with both of them [qualifiers]," said Crone. The first one (a 2:05 2/5 mile June 19) was just an experience of being here at Mohawk. The second time, she was great. Louis was really impressed by her."

The bay was an $85,000 (CDN) purchase at the 2025 London Classic Yearling Sale.

"Bill Donovan picked her out," noted Crone. "We went back and looked at her and we loved her. We're really excited."

Verily paid $14.90 for the win.

Rebel Moon struck gold in the final OSS Gold division race of the evening.

Jyn Erso got the first call off the gate and glided to the early lead, with R Rosie seated second, Rebel Moon third and Selectively Sweet in fourth through an opening panel in 28 2/5. R Rosie was directed to the lead soon after and held a 1 1/2 length advantage over Jyn Erso after a half in 58 4/5.

Jody Jamieson then pivoted Rebel Moon to the outside and set their sights on R Rosie before reaching the three-quarters station in 1:28 1/5. From there, it was a stretch-drive throwdown between the fillies, who matched strides until Rebel Moon finally wore down a gutsy R Rosie for a hard-earned half-length win. Jyn Erso finished third and Northern Song took fourth. The final time was 1:56.

Trained by Carl Jamieson for owners Sarah Anthon and Ellen Ott, Rebel Moon arrived at Sunday's dash off a fourth (elevated from fifth) in her debut on June 26 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

"Last time, it was just her first start," said Jody. "I think her last quarter was in 27[1/5]. She was perfect. She's always been perfect. She trotted great from the day we broke her. She's been a sweetheart all along."

Bred by Jeff Gillis, the daughter of Muscle Mass out of the Father Patrick mare Kiss An Angel posted a pair of qualifiers ahead of her first start, including a winning effort in 2:01 2/5 on June 19 at the Milton oval. Sent on her way as the 7-5 choice, she paid $4.80 for her milestone victory.

In other Sunday evening OSS action at Woodbine Mohawk Park, driver Doug McNair and trainer Gregg McNair swept the three Grassroots divisions for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, winning with Atlas Ross, C Script and Yes I Am Hanover.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--