August 25, 2024
By Ontario Sires Stakes Communications
HANOVER, Ont., Aug. 24, 2024 – It was a big day for owner Determination Stable, trainer Luc Blais and driver Louis-Philippe Roy Saturday as the Ontario Sires Stakes 50th Anniversary celebration tour made its stop at Hanover Raceway.
The combination of the Montreal-based stable, Blais and Roy swept the two $20,000 OSS Grassroots divisions for three-year-old pacing fillies at Hanover with Bettors Delight daughters Greatest Pleasure and Collusion Hanover.
Greatest Pleasure, a homebred of Determination Stable, won in 1:56. Starting from the outside, Roy quickly had her jump out in front to take the lead and never relinquished it with quarter splits of :29, :59.2 and 1:28.1 before finishing the final half lap in :27.9.
The victory was the ninth in Greatest Pleasure’s career and the fifth this year. The last time she raced, she attempted to take a step up in class, competing in the Gold Mid-Season Final, but ended up finishing eighth.
A combination of a return to the Grassroots level and the half-mile confines of Hanover’s track looked to be the right recipe to get her back into the winner’s circle.
“She’s a little filly that’s very handy with a huge heart,” said Roy of Greatest Pleasure. “Sometimes racing against the big fillies like Its A Love Thing and Odds On Platinum over the big surface [gives her problems]. She’ll leave her heart on the track, but her short legs may not reward her determination.
“When she competes on these tight tracks, however, she’s really tough to beat. These are her favourite battlefields.”
But while Roy’s trip with Greatest Pleasure proved to be an uneventful one for the most part, the win he scored with Collusion Hanover was just the opposite.
Coming from an outside lane again, Roy attempted the same manoeuvre he did with Greatest Pleasure but was unable to claim first place as he was cutting inside with Collusion Hanover. Instead, he was forced to sit in the pocket behind Betterwithglasses (Betterthancheddar) and Trevor Henry for the first half of the race, pacing in splits of :26.4 and 1:00.
At the midway point, Roy directed Collusion Hanover to the outside again and was racing side-by-side with Betterwithglasses through the 1:27.4 three-quarter mark, as they made the turn for home, Collusion Hanover was trailing, but she found enough left in the tank to chase down Betterwithglasses and win in 1:56.2.
“The two-hole wasn’t ideal for my filly,” said Roy after the race. “She had to work to first early from the half, so we were sitting on the outside trying to make sure we were in a striking spot at the end, and she wasn’t too tired.
“She was just the best in there today, overcoming that tougher trip. Luc’s barn has been phenomenal lately, so you always sit behind those horses with a little more confidence.”
Collusion Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. in Hanover, Pa.
As part of Saturday’s 11-race card at Hanover, the $45,000 Balanced Image Final was also run Saturday, with Shutter Green (Green Manalishi S) and driver Bob McClure winning for trainer Mark Etsell in 2:00.4.
In addition to the action on the track, Hanover Raceway fans were also treated to OSS 50th Anniversary celebrations that included hat giveaways, historical displays, kids’ activity books and more.
The Ontario Sires Stakes’ 50th Anniversary tour next makes its final stops at Grand River Raceway and Hiawatha Horse Park on Sept. 6 and 7, respectively.
Complete results from Saturday’s program are available here, and replays can be viewed on the Hanover Raceway Youtube Channel.
FEATURED PHOTO: Greatest Pleasure winning an OSS Grassroots Series race on Aug. 24 at Hanover Raceway (Lori Martin)
IN-LINE PHOTO: Collusion Hanover winning an OSS Grassroots Series race on Aug. 24 at Hanover Raceway (Lori Martin)
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