Woodbine Mohawk Park: MacDonald cleans up in OSS Gold Series

The C$159,000 Gold Series division for 3-year-old trotting fillies was the first of two Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) races won by driver James MacDonald on Monday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

MacDonald took Righteous Resolve (Resolve) straight to the front out of post nine and kept the lead through fractions of 27 2/5, 56 2/5 and 1:24 1/5. In the far turn, Baroness Hill (Kadabra), driven by Doug McNair, moved to the outside and overtook Mass Hysteria (Muscle Mass) and Trevor Henry in the battle for second.

Righteous Resolve kept the lead as the field entered the stretch, but Mass Hysteria made a last-minute push from behind to overtake Baroness Hill and tried to challenge Righteous Resolve, but she proved too strong. Righteous Resolve stopped the clock at 1:52 to set a new career-best clocking.

"She raced well last week. I thought she was going to be super again tonight, and she's been good all year," said MacDonald. "It seems the last few starts she's been trending back to how she was."

The Resolve filly's win brought her total career earnings to C$1,018,218 for co-owners Bet Max Stables Inc. and Benenati Inc.

"When she got to the front pretty easy, she shut the door. She knew what to do with it," said MacDonald.

Matthew Bax trainee Righteous Resolve won her second OSS Gold of the season and has collected C$172,534 in OSS earnings this year. Runner-up Mass Hysteria has made C$297,128 over the course of her career for co-owners Daniel Culp, William Pendleton, and Kyle Bossence, who is also the trainer. Baroness Hill, trained by Chantal Mitchell, finished in third and has collected C$139,360 in OSS earnings this year for owner Tom Hill.

Righteous Resolve paid $2.60 for the win.

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The second OSS Gold of the night was race six on the card, and Hasty Bid (My MVP), driven by MacDonald won the C$158,100 event for the 3-year-old trotting colts and geldings.

Hasty Bid took the outside path from post eight to grab the early lead and kept in front through fractions of 27 1/5, 56 3/5, and 1:25 2/5. In deep stretch, Ghostly Casper (Resolve), piloted by Tyler Borth, along with Osceola (Muscle Mass) and driver McNair challenged Hasty Bid for the lead, but Hasty Bid held on by a nose and crossed the wire first in a time of 1:53 3/5. Ghostly Casper finished in second, while Osceola completed the podium in third.

Hasty Bid has made C$509,911 over the course of his career for co-owners 1000063663 Ontario Inc. and Paige Austin, who is also the trainer. He paid $2.80 to win.

"He's been so good to us and we're pretty happy to have him," said Austin. "He's tough and he wants to win."

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--