Woodbine Mohawk Park: One Last Wish scores in OSS Gold Series

Seeing a free-legged pacer doesn't happen very often, but one horse who does race without hobbles is 3-year-old filly One Last Wish, and on Tuesday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park, she picked up the lion's share of the big C$199,900 purse in an Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series event.

Driver Paul MacDonell positioned One Last Wish in the pocket behind Big Big Plans (Trevor Henry) at the 26 4/5 opening quarter, but he was out and on the move to take command past that marker. After One Last Wish touched down on the point, she stayed in front to the 55 second half and the 1:22 2/5 three-quarters, and there was no catching her through a 27 4/5 end to the mile, as she defeated Big Big Plans by a length and a half in a career-best clocking of 1:50 1/5. Lyons Bettorday (Louis-Philippe Roy) rallied from seventh to third in the final quarter.

"I liked our position right from the start. I like the five-hole," said MacDonell. "She's got nice gate speed. I thought we'd use it tonight. I wasn't sure how many would come out of there, but it was just the one horse with Trevor Henry. When I re-moved on the backstretch, she felt great, so I just let her rock on in the third quarter, and she was able to hold on from there.

"We've been buddies a long time, honestly. I drove the mother of this one, Arts Diva, for [trainer Ken Sucee] back in the day. It was just a nice, natural progression for this filly to come along, and he's done a great job with her."

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Bred by owners Brian and Dr. David Legge, One Last Wish picked up her sixth victory in her 19th career start. She has now earned C$175,038 and paid $12.00 to win after being sent off at 5-1.

"We're very thankful. SHe's a nice filly, and she's a natural, that's why she's free-legged. I've been blessed to have her, that's the bottom line," remarked Sucee. "I've had the owners for 16 years. They've owned this family going back four generations, and they've never, ever wanted to push them as babies, just let them develop and be themselves. That's what we've done, and they've allowed me to do. They're patient and that's what's paid off."