Woodbine Mohawk Park: OSS Gold Series races go to Cheesy Smile, Big Big Plans

Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series action for rookies kicked off on Canada Day at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with a pair of C$102,200 divisions for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

In the first section John Pentland trainee Cheesy Smile was the 8-5 favorite and proved worthy of that support, pacing a mile in 1:53 4/5 to win her second straight start.

Bob McClure positioned the Betterthancheddar daughter fourth at the half-mile, seven lengths off a scorching 55 4/5 pace set by Beca Mitchell (Sportswriter), then McClure moved her out on cover from Charming Vixen (Sportswriter), driven by Jody Jamieson, as the field rounded the far turn. The filly powered down the stretch three-wide to take
the lead and hold off a late charging Freshen Up to win by a neck.

"They battled up front and Bob had her settled in nice," said Pentland. "It was fortunate the way they got to the half in a big time. When Jody went, he looked like had a lot of horse. We were lucky to get on his back and everything seemed to work from there."

Cheesy Smile is undefeated through two starts, and she made it to the races ready to win thanks to the team helping her along.

"This horse is kind of in your face all the time," said Pentland. "Tori McKinnon is her groom, and Tori is able to make light of the whole situation. She has such a way with horses that are a little awkward. So, she has been a real big help."

Another name Pentland mentioned was Doug Downey, who's driven Cheesy Smile all year and proclaimed her one of the best fillies he's ever worked with. High praise from a man who worked for Canadian Horse Racing Hall of Fame trainer Bob McIntosh.

"On the track she's just a nice training horse," said Pentland. "She doesn't pull. She doesn't try to pull up. She's happy to do her work. She likes training with other horses. The filly has a shot at being somebody."

The final piece of the puzzle, which is key to any successful racehorse, is Pentland's supportive co-owners Cindy Molyneux, Peter Charlton, and Archie Leach.

"You can't get a better group of people to own a horse," said Pentland. "If this horse had won a Grassroots race they would have been just as happy. I am so glad to have their support, and they just make it a lot of fun."

James MacDonald drove Freshen Up to second-place finish for trainer Chantal Mitchell. Owned by Bella Racing, Evan Katz, and Frank Canzone, the Bettors Delight filly closed in 27 3/5 in a game effort. Rounding out the top three was Starlight Dancer (Artspeak). Trevor Henry drove the Melissa Lamoreaux trainee.

► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter

The second Gold Series flight went in race six at the Campbellville, Ontario, oval and 9-5 second choice Big Big Plans gave freshman sire All Bets Off his initial OSS winner from his first crop of racing age.

Virtual Kiss, Lyons Bettorday, and Ima Doll jockeyed for the early lead, with each holding it at a point in the light 28 3/5 first quarter before Trevor Henry moved Big Big Plans out down the backstretch.

"We were going slow," said Henry. "Sylvain (Filion) wanted to be in the two-hole or something, and I couldn't sit where I was because we weren't going much, and she cleared and fought all the way to the wire."

Big Big Plans, out of Somethinincredible, is trained by Bob McIntosh, who bred her with C S X Stables, and Dave Boyle. Henry has driven her Bettor's Delight half-siblings Beyond Better and Thats Incredible, who have earned C$296,470, and C$323,494, respectively.

"She's better gaited than all of them," said Henry. "She's a great-gaited filly. She hasn't done anything wrong yet. Touch wood."

McIntosh and Boyle co-own the filly, who stopped the timer in 1:54 2/5, with Mardon Stables.

Matching his runner-up result in the opening OSS division, James MacDonald piloted Lyons Bettorday to a second-place finish. Anthony Beaton trains the Bettor's Delight filly who is owned by Threelyonsracing. Birdie Three (Sportswriter) was third for trainer Wayne McGean. Austin Sorrie drove for McGean and co-owners David Mercer and Joseph Lewis.

--press release (Ontario Sires Stakes)--