Woodbine Mohawk Park: Its A Love Thing dominates OSS Gold competition

Harness racing's top 3-year-old pacing filly Its A Love Thing posted her fifth straight victory with another powerful first-over win in a C$140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series dash on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Its A Love Thing got away in the fifth position for driver James MacDonald while Lightning Lizzie (Brett MacDonald) went to the point in a 27 second opening quarter. Odds On Platinum (Sylvain Filion), coming off triumphs in the Courageous Lady at Northfield and the James M. Lynch Memorial at Pocono, then tipped out of the pocket to take the top spot in the backstretch. The half came up in just 56 seconds and MacDonald already had Its A Love Thing out and moving first-over.

Odds On Platinum and Its A Love Thing threw down in a battle on the final bend, but Its A Love Thing had an advantage on the rim before the 1:22 4/5 three-quarters and then put away Odds On Platinum early in the lane. Its A Love Thing was on cruise control from there, prevailing by a length and three-quarters over stablemate Pass Line (Doug McNair) in a 1:50 mile. One More Bet (Louis-Philippe Roy) was third and Coco Jo Jo (Jody Jamieson) collected fourth as Odds On Platinum tired to fifth.

"She loves to race horses. She sees that horse on front and it's hard to throttle her back when you get her out there," offered MacDonald after the race. "She just wants to go so fast and like run them into the ground. She's been a lot of fun to drive, and hopefully it's just the tip of the iceberg for her.

"Nothing she does surprises me. I had to move her a little earlier. We weren't going a whole lot. I saw the half come up in 56 and I needed her to have a half in like 52 and change and she does it. She's a beast and I'm just so happy to be along for the ride."

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

A Bettor's Delight filly bred by Marvin and Lynn Katz and Al Libfeld, Its A Love Thing is trained by Dave Menary for owners Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, Josh Green and Rich Lombardo Racing LLC. This was her 13th lifetime victory, she has put away C$1,194,530 and paid $3.40 to win.

"She's just special. James always puts her in the right spot, and even when she's not in the right spot, she seems to be able to overcome it. She gives me tingles," stated Menary. "Early on there were two starts where she was second and third and should have won by six from running out. We corrected that steering last year, and this year it's kind of been clear sailing. She matured, she grew into herself and she just loves to do it.

"Simcoe next and then the Kentucky Sires Stakes final and then there's another Gold. It's a long time until the end of the year, but before you know it you're running out of starts."