Woodbine Mohawk Park: OSS Gold Series tilt won by R Liza

R Liza ran her record to four wins from four starts this year with a 1:53 4/5 victory in a C$140,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series contest for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Monday night at Woodbine Mohwk Park.

Driven by Jody Jamieson, R Liza got away in the pocket but moved to the outside past the 27 2/5 quarter and cleared No One (Bruce Richardson) to become the new leader just before the 57 second half-mile marker. Jamieson continued an easy tempo to three-quarters in 1:26 1/5 as Lexus Angel (Trevor Henry) stalled from first-up, and race favorite Willys Home Run was second-over on the dull cover.

In the stretch Jamieson pushed the button on R Liza and opened up several lengths on the others, and even though Willys Home Run charged hard in the final eighth, R Liza had too big of a jump on her and held sway by three-quarters of a length. Lexus Angel was third with Muscone (Travis Cullen) fourth and Kinnder Hotblood (Matt Bax) fifth.

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"I looked over and saw Trevor was first-up and he was just nursing his filly. I thought I better get away on Willys Home Run because Willys Home Run is a champion. She's going to be tough to beat all year long. We've been fortunate enough so far," Jamieson said about his strategy. "Coming into the straightaway I kind of hit the gas and tried to get enough of a lead to hang on. She was very good tonight."

R Liza, a daughter of Muscle Mass, is trained by Susie Kerwood for owners M & L Of Delaware LLC. and Alabama Harness Associates. She is an eight-time winner from 12 starts in her career, has now pocketed C$332,357 and paid $4.80 to win as the second choice.