October 14, 2023
By Mel Keith for Ontario Racing
MILTON, October 14, 2023 – The Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series Super Final for three-year-old pacing fillies wrote its own headline when a sentimental favourite dug deep for victory.
One Last Wish walked quietly out of the Woodbine Mohawk Park paddock for the post parade, in line to regular driver Paul MacDonell. As she headed out, caretaker Sara Czerlau gave the homebred Bettors Delight–Arts Diva daughter a lucky pat on the nose.
The field of 10 was scratched down to nine before the addition of also-eligible Talk Curdy To Me, who moved into Post 9 to replace Lyons Bettorday, whose trainer faced a suspension. Ten fillies ultimately went behind the gate to decide the 2023 divisional Gold Series title.
One Last Wish left from Post 4, chasing the quick-leaving Ima Doll. Momentary Control sat third as MacDonell’s filly made front on the first turn, settling smoothly ahead of Ima Doll before the :26.4 opening quarter.
As if scripted, Momentary Control and driver Tyler Jones temporarily gained the lead in a first-over move to the :55 flat half.
First-over 18–1 longshot Talk Curdy To Me made it up to her sulky wheel at three-quarters, reached in 1:23.3.
Control shifted back to One Last Wish during the stretch drive.
She escaped the pocket to take down Momentary Control, making up five open lengths in a brave surge to the finish.
Divisional number-one in the OSS Gold Series standings, with three previous 2023 Gold Series victories, One Last Wish was a winning 6–1 overlay in the $300,000 Super Final. The 1:51.4 clocking wasn't her fastest win, but it clearly meant the most to her tearful trainer.
One Last Wish (p, 3, 1:50.1s; $297,802 CA) is owned by breeders Brian Legge, Toronto, ON and Dr. David Legge, Ajax, ON, and trained throughout her career by Bowmanville, ON horseman Ken Sucee.
She is the last of her dam’s five offspring, and the only Bettors Delight. Arts Diva (p, 4, 1:49.3s; $691,175 CA) has produced all sub-1:55 winners, including half-brother Maromabeach (p, 4, 1:50.0f; $384,951 CA).
“It’s genuinely full circle,” said Sucee. “We had the mother [Arts Diva] so many years ago, and
and the Legges as owners for so long now, and to have the last one of the mare, that’s why they named her One Last Wish. To do this, and what she’s done this year, is just beyond words for me. I’ve just been blessed, you know, get up in the morning and love to see her, that’s all. They don’t come along very often so I’m going to cherish this and cherish her.”
MacDonell told interviewer John Rallis that he was impressed by One Last Wish’s OSS evolution: “She really came along. Last year she was a good Grassrooter. This year, I could tell when she qualified that she was going to be able to step it up, and I said to Kenny [Sucee], ‘She probably will be a Gold filly this year.’ I didn’t think she’d be this good, but she definitely stepped it up.”
Although Sucee called her “a fighter” on the track, the gentle Gold Series champion filly received hugs, kisses, and plenty of congratulatory pats in the winners’ circle, surrounded by her beaming connections.
One Last Wish paid $14.30 to win.
Complete results from Saturday’s Super Finals are available
here and replays can be viewed on the Woodbine Mohawk Park YouTube
channel.
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