Mirage Hanover became the fastest 2-year-old thus far in North America so far in 2023 by winning a C$104,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series dash for colts and geldings on Friday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park in 1:50 4/5. Driver Bob McClure hustled Mirage Hanover to the point after the 27 2/5 opening quarter, and from there, he posted middle-half fractions of 55 2/5 and 1:24 1/5 before he drew off to prevail by 5 1/2 lengths over Wikipedia (Jonathan Drury). Nijinsky (Louis-Philippe Roy) was third. A Bettor's Delight colt bred by Hanover Shoe Farms, Mirage Hanover is trained by Scott McEneny for owner Marvin Rounick. Sold for $175,000 at last year's Standardbred Horse Sale, he broke his maiden in his third attempt, has now banked C$71,894 and paid $2.80 to win. That was one of four OSS Gold Series events for rookie pacers on the card, and back in the first C$102,200 grouping, Its A Love Thing won her division for fillies.   James MacDonald kept Its A Love Thing (Bettor's Delight) off-the-pace of 27 1/5, 57 and 1:25 1/5 set by leader Resilience (Jimmy Freight) and was in fourth with a quarter to go. In the far turn, Doug McNair sent Blazing Belle (Bettor's Delight) out first-over to challenge Resilience and driver Louis-Philippe Roy, but Resilience dug in and was able to repel that bid.   Then in deep stretch, Its A Love Thing came flying, and they were two-across at the line, with Its A Love Thing crossing the wire first in a time of 1:52 3/5.   The Bettor's Delight filly had an OSS Grassroots win in her previous start and has now collected C$62,400 OSS earnings this year for owners Eric Good, Thomas Biederman, and Joshua Green.   Its A Love Thing paid $27.80 to win, but it was something trainer David Menary knew she was capable of. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter "She was my favorite all winter. I want her to be known for being a good racehorse not for having one eye, so that's the game plan. All winter long she should've trained with older horses not babies," said Menary. “She had a couple bumps in the road. I thought she was a gold filly all the way along. Things are headed in the right direction and hopefully they keep heading that way." The second-place finish for Resilience was worth C$24,017 in earnings. The Eric Nadeau trainee is owned by Louis-Philippe Roy, Ecurie Francis Richard Inc., Ecurie Csl and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. Blazing Belle, trained by Gregg McNair, collected C$11,528 in earnings for owner James Avritt.   Menary touched on Its A Love Thing and her being a strong contender. "She just goes fast easy, she's big. I've never had any real good big Bettor's Delights, all my good ones were small." In race three, the second OSS Gold division of the night, Do Better, a Bettor's Delight gelding, improved his record to three-for-three for driver Sylvain Filion, trainer Bob McIntosh, and owners Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. and Mardon Stables. Do Better stopped the clock in 1:51 3/5. The third OSS Gold division of the night was race six on the card, and Odds On Platinum, a daughter of Bettor's Delight also driven by Filion, came away with the win. Odds On Platinum is trained by Dr. Ian Moore for owner Odds On Racing and tallied in 1:52 2/5. --edited press release (Ontario Racing)--