INNISFIL – Two-year-old trotters invaded Georgian Downs tonight with four Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold divisions and Archangel filly Willys Home Run improved to 3 for 3 at the top level of the provincial program in the first $100,400 division of the evening.
In the first two Legs of the season, Willys Home Run won from off the pace at Woodbine Mohawk Park, but tonight James MacDonald pressed go on the Kyle Fellows trainee from the moment the wings rolled in race two.
Leaving from post three, MacDonald led the field through fractions of 29.3, 59.1, and 1:28 before stopping the clock in 1:56.1, four lengths ahead of her nearest challenger Classy Royale driven by Jody Jamieson.
“It was the two best fillies in the division so far, Jody’s filly, and mine,” said MacDonald. “Ideally I wanted to be forwardly placed, or ahead of Jody if I could, and just in a spot where I could get a chance to race her, and let her be great, and it worked out tonight.”
Bred by Reg Higgs, the win moves Willys Home Run over $157,000 in earnings through just four career starts.
“She’s a strong filly with a big strong gait. Around the last turn Jody inched out off my back and I was confident I had quite a bit of trot left,” said MacDonald. “I just tapped her on the tail, and the second I asked her she just took off. She’s developing into a very good filly, and passing every test with flying colours.”
Higgs co-owns the filly with Dr. Sara Gatchell, Jake Higgs, and Yolanda Fellows who paid $3.20 for the win.
MacDonald picked up the OSS double and his fourth win of the night in the final OSS division of the evening piloting Soar Higher to his maiden breaking score in a $102,200 affair for two-year-old colts and geldings.
Canada’s leading driver was forced to settle his Resolve gelding off the early pace and watch Mrstery Deal and Myretirementdream exchange the lead through the first half-mile.
“I wanted to take advantage of his good gait, he trots really nice, and had good gate speed, so I took him out there as good as I could,” said MacDonald. “It didn’t work out, so I had to take a hold and I was lucky to get in a spot.”
After getting cover from Trevor Henry and Masstercraft Soar Higher and MacDonald tipped out three wide rounding the final turn, and flew home to win by a neck in 1:57.3.
“I had horses around me, and I thought if I got lucky, I could get out,” said MacDonald. “I was able to slide out on Trevor’s back and then in the last turn I flipped him out three wide and it turned into a great trip.
A $120,000 Lexington Select purchase, the well bred gelding had two seconds and a third in his first three career starts.
He is a half-sister to OSS Super Final winner Up and Ready, and his second dam M Stewart is the mother of Maven, who earned over $2 million in a globe-trotting career.
Matt Bax trains Soar Higher who moves over $90,000 in earnings with the victory for owners Bax Stable, Bradley Grant, Milton, David Hudson, and Harbor Racing Stable.
He paid $6.20 for his first career win.
The other OSS divisions were races three and four.
Race three, a $103,100 division for colts and geldings, saw several of the freshman make breaks, but Willowtime and Bob McClure avoided the trouble and won by 10 lengths for trainer Mark Etsell in a final time of 1:58.
Etsell co-owns the filly with Terry Devos, and Peter Porter, and it was the debut start for the son of Lookslikeachpdndale who was sent off at odds of 33-1.
In race four, Bruce Richardson homebred No One led from start to finish and despite several strong challenges Richardson was able to pilot his horse to victory by a nose over MacDonald and a hard charging Evolving.
No One stopped the clock in 1:58.3 and paid $6.70 for the win.
Watch replays of all the races here.
Image credit: New Image Media
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