Woodbine Mohawk Park: Rookie trotting fillies duel in OSS Gold Series

Believe U Me and Righteous Resolve tallied in a pair of C$102,200 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series tilts for 2-year-old filly trotters on Tuesday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Its Your Choice (Doug McNair) led the field through fractions of 28 3/5, 1:00, and 1:30 4/5 in the first division. Meanwhile, Believe U Me (Louis-Philippe Roy) got away in fifth and came to the outside to follow The Dealers Ace (Bob McClure) from second-over on the last turn, but that would turn into a third-over position when Northern Magenta (James MacDonald) tipped out of the pocket heading to three-quarters.

In the lane Its Your Choice tried to fend off the closers, but it was to no avail, as Roy fanned out Believe U Me, and she finished with a 27 3/5 final quarter to get up and win by a length and a half in 1:59 1/5. The Dealers Ace got by Its Your Choice to finish in the runner-up position.

"She's a very fast filly. Last start at Georgian I didn't really know her. That was her first start for me, and we kind of got jammed up. She had to go first-up, and she got lost there, almost trying to pull up," said Roy. "I just wanted to make sure I was keeping her on a helmet as long as I could. I was so confident in her that if I was just in a striking range in the stretch she just was going to do the job for me. That's what she did. I'm very happy with her."

A daughter of Muscle Mass-I Believe bred by Wiesman Farms and purchased for $115,000 at last year's Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, Believe U Me is trained by Meg Crone for owner W.J. Donovan. Believe U Me, whose second dam is the great CR Kay Suzie, broke her maiden in her second attempt, has now pocketed C$63,256, and paid $3.10 to win as the 1-2 favorite.

The second section saw Shiny New Penny (Sylvain Filion) gun to the front in a 28 2/5 opening quarter, but Righteous Resolve (Paul MacDonell) brushed from third to first going to the 57 4/5 half. Sweet Detrmination (McNair) charged first-over out of fourth on the last turn, but Righteous Resolve was able to fend her off to the 1:28 3/5 three-quarters and through the lane, winning by a length in 1:57 2/5. Shiny New Penny held third.

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"She's really nice. I thought there'd be a little bit of early speed off the gate, and there was. Down the backstretch I thought I'd make my move there. The half was a little faster than I thought it would be, but she was able to overcome that," remarked MacDonell. "She's been very professional right from the day I took over on her. I really like her. She's great-gaited and smart. She seems to have some speed, too, so you put all those things together, you're in good shape."

John Bax trains Righteous Resolve, a Resolve filly, for owners/breeders Bet Max Stables Inc. and Benenati Inc. A full sister to Duly Resolved, last year's top 2-year-old male trotter in Canada, Righteous Resolve has compiled a record of 2-1-0 from three appearances, has banked C$84,425, and returned $4.50 to win as the favorite.