Woodbine Mohawk Park: Two-year-old pacing fillies clash in first OSS Gold Series leg

Deb turned in a 1:53 2/5 mile to lead the way in Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series action for 2-year-old pacing fillies on Monday evening at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Driven by Trevor Henry in the second of three C$66,400 divisions, Deb made front from post six and chopped out the opening quarter in 27 4/5, but she would yield for the pocket when confronted by 5-2 second choice Cafe Society (Jonathan Drury). Cafe Society hit the half in 56 1/5 and the three-quarters in 1:25 1/5, with Skyhigh Ambition (Louis-Philippe Roy) challenging from first-up at three-quarters, and 3-5 favorite Quebec Blue Chip (Jody Jamieson) positioned second-over.

Skyhigh Ambition forged her way to a slim lead in upper stretch, but a seam became available up the inside for Deb, and she would pour through the space, going on to win by a length and a half. Skyhigh Ambition had to settle for third, and Quebec Blue Chip was third after being one-paced through the lane despite the trip.

"She's trained great all winter, no problems," offered winning trainer Dr. Ian Moore. "She's got a little bit warm lately, and she was pretty warm there tonight around the last turn. we'll make a few changes and just try to settle her a little bit. Other than that, Trevor said she was great."

Moore trains Deb, a filly by Sportswriter, for owners Wilma and James MacKenzie. Deb, a C$24,000 London Selected Yearling Sale purchase bred by Seelster Farms Inc., was making her career debut after a third and a win in her two baby races at Woodbine Mohawk Park. She is out of the unraced Jereme's Jet mare Atlantic Seelster, a half-sister to the likes of the late Aniston Seelster (Mach Three, 1:52 1/5, C$273,538). Deb was sent off at 8-1 and paid $19.30 to win.

Back in the opening section, Propose (Henry) and Revival Cards (Doug McNair) were side-by-side for the lead at the 29 second opening quarter, with Revival Cards taking command. That wouldn't last, though, as Better Single came with a rush out of fourth, and she was the new boss before the 56 4/5 half. Better Single kept clear to the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters and held sway through the lane, winning by a length and a quarter in 1:54 3/5. Revival Cards stayed on to get second, with Medici Hanover (Roy) third after a tepid first-over try.

That race also saw a fall by trailing horse Southwind Prima on the far turn, which ejected driver Sylvain Filion from the race bike. Fortunately, Filion was just scraped and bruised, and he was able to continue driving on the program, and Southwind Prima was also able to get to her feet after some time down on the track as well.

"I was pretty high on her qualifying. She'd done everything I'd asked and done it very easily," said MacDonald. "I was confident in her going in, and I just hoped the trip would work out. She's actually probably better on a helmet for now, but sometimes you've got to take what the race gives you."

Better Single, a daughter of Betterthancheddar, is trained by Tony Beaton, who also co-owns the C$17,000 London Selected Yearling Sale acquisition with David Mercer. Better Single, who was third and first in her two baby races, was bred by Winbak Farm and is out of the Run The Table mare Imoutahere (C$188,474, 1:52 2/5), a sister to five other six-figure earners, including Aint Lookin Back (Easy Goer, C$203,742, 1:53 1/5). Better Single was the 2-1 favorite and returned $6.60 to win.

Rounding out the Ontario Sires Stakes winners for the evening was Disturbed Hanover (Jamieson) in the final grouping. She was fifth through opening-half stations of 27 3/5 and 57, then attacked with a rush that carried her into the lead on the outside at the 1:25 4/5 three-quarters. She put away previous leader Clearly Better (McNair) coming off the last turn, opened up a gap in upper stretch, and paced on to the win by a length in 1:53 4/5. Crisp Mane (Henry) and Summer Charm (Chris Christoforou) ended up finishing in a dead-heat for second.

"She pinned ears at me, she was decent-size, and I wanted to come back to Canada," said victorious trainer Bart Dalious about selecting Disturbed Hanover. "I'm staying here and hopefully she does good. She's A Great Lady, Battle of the Belles, got a few more here."

The victorious Big Jim miss is trained by Dalious for owner The Wiz Kids Stable LLC. This was her second career start, having finished third in Zero Tolerance's season-leading 1:51 3/5 mile on June 29 at the Meadowlands. She was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and was taken out of the Standardbred Horse Sale for $10,000. She is out of the unraced Jenna's Beach Boy mare Driven To Sin, whose best performer so far has been Drachan Hanover (Jereme's Jet, C$492,027, 1:50 1/5). Disturbed Hanover was the even-money favorite and paid $4.30 to win.