MILTON, Ont., May 25, 2024 – Driver James MacDonald had himself a big night Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park, winning three OSS Gold races, scoring a victory in another non-OSS race, and tying a track record, all on the same evening he received his third straight Lampman Cup.
With the OSS Gold season kicking off Saturday night, MacDonald looked to be in fine form and eager to win his fourth consecutive Lampman Cup as the top driver in the OSS.
“It takes a lot of good owners, a lot of good trainers and a lot of good horses, for sure,” said MacDonald of what it takes to become a top reinsman. “I’ve been really fortunate to drive some of the best OSS horses over the last few years … and it looks like I’ve been blessed again to get a bunch of Ontario-sired three-year-olds coming back.”
The 38-year-old was indeed blessed with strong three-year-olds Saturday. Of the five Gold races that were held, MacDonald was seen in the winner’s circle in three of them.
His first Gold win of the night was also the biggest of the evening, as he and ITS A LOVE THING (BETTORS DELIGHT) tied BOADICEA’s (BIG JIM) 7/8 mile OSS track record time of 1:49 for three-year-old pacing fillies, taking Race 3 and the brunt of the $140,000 purse that was on the line.
“I’m feeling good, it just gets me excited for the rest of the year for her,” MacDonald said of ITS A LOVE THING and her record-tying performance. “She’s just an absolute powerhouse. Anytime you can etch your name in record books it’s kind of cool.”
ITS A LOVE THING is trained by David Menary, owned by Eric Good (Davidsonville, Md.), Thomas Biederman (Lexington), Joshua Green (Midway, Ky.) and Rich Lombardo Racing (Solon, Ohio), and bred by Marvin and Lynn Katz (Toronto) and Al Libfeld (Pickering, Ont.).
After setting the tone for the rest of his evening with that Race 3 win, MacDonald also secured Gold victories in Races 6 and 7.
Race 6, with a purse of $95,000 on the line for three-year-old trotting colts, MacDonald ensured the favourite GRIFF (MUSCLE MASS) would live up to his billing.
Trained by Murray Brethour, bred by Jeffrey and Lori Thomson (Chesley, Ont.), and owned by Jeffrey and Lori Thomson (Chesley, Ont.), Murray Brethour (Sunderland, Ont.) and Kyle Northover (Sunderland, Ont.), GRIFF impressed MacDonald with his ability to overcome a weaker starting post at No. 8 through his sheer power.
“He’s big, he’s strong, he’s got a lot of power behind him,” said MacDonald of GRIFF. “Hopefully he can just keep developing into a really nice horse because he’s got a lot of tools – he’s got some quick gate speed and he’s great gated. I think the rest of the year for him should be good. He’s just a really nice horse.”
In Race 7, MacDonald took his third Gold win in race for three-year-old pacing colts with another total purse of $95,000.
Unlike his other two Gold wins, Race 7 saw MacDonald deliver a win with a non-favourite in Menary-trained, Burke Racing Stable-, Weaver Bruscemi (Canonsburg, Pa.)-, Frank Baldachino (Harvey Cedars, N.J.)- and Lawrence Karr (Randolph, N.J.)-owned, and Lynne Bowen (London, Ont.)-bred TROPHY TAKER (ALL BETS OFF), who managed to catch the favourite, STORM SHADOW (BETTORS DELIGHT), down the stretch in a thrilling finish.
“He felt like a million bucks the whole mile and the results showed,” said MacDonald of TROPHY TAKER. “The horse came out and gave me a big kick down the lane and it was just a great win for everyone.”
Adding to his great night, MacDonald also won Race 4 with CHALK HANOVER (BETTORS DELIGHT), in an $18,000 race for four-year-olds and younger (non-winners).
CHALK HANOVER is trained by Menary, bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. (Hanover, Pa.), and owned by Menary Racing Inc. (Rockton, Ont.) and Anthony Timmins (Birmingham, G.B.).
Overall, it was a fantastic night for MacDonald, winning four of the 12 races on Saturday’s card and three of the five OSS Gold events.
“I find it a lot in this business, and probably the same in any sport that when you’re hot you can’t do any wrong, and it’s just been one of those nights,” said MacDonald.
The other two Gold races, in Races 2 and 9, respectively, were captured by CONVOY HALL (MUSCLE MASS) and NIJINSKY (BETTORS DELIGHT).
Both races had $95,000 on the line with Race 2 being for three-year-old trotting colts and Race 9 for three-year-old pacing colts.
CONVOY HALL, who was driven by Sylvain Filion, is trained by Robert McIntosh, owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. (Windsor, Ont.), Douglas John McIntosh (Wheatley, Ont.), Randy Liepa (Livonia, Mich.) and Beverley Snobelen (Ridgetown, Ont.), and bred by Alan Leavitt (Lexington, Ky.), didn’t race as a two-year-old but has looked strong now as a three-year-old.
“He wasn’t prepared as a two-year-old and I had to let Mother Nature do her thing,” said McIntosh of CONVOY HALL. “You just can’t argue with Mother Nature. So we came back this year and he’s been just great this year.”
NIJINSKY is trained by Anthony Beaton, owned by West Wins Stable (Wellington, Fla.), John Fielding (Scarborough, Ont.) and Mark Dumain, (Pine Bush, N.Y.), and bred by Jeffrey Snyder (New York, N.Y.).
Driven by Louis-Philippe Roy Saturday night, NIJINSKY managed to chase down FUNTIME BAYAMA (HES WATCHING) right before the finish to pick up the win.
“I liked my chances, especially with the field we had,” said Roy. “I knew my horse could sprint really fast and pretty much everyone could expect it would be a two-horse race sprinting at the end there and my horse prevailed.”
On top of the racing action, Saturday saw a pair of trophies being awarded with MacDonald receiving his 2023 Lampman Cup and Shawn Steacy getting his 2023 Johnston Cup as the top trainer in the OSS last year. This was Steacy’s second time winning the award, putting him just one shy of the three that his father, Mark, has won.
“Super proud for us, our family,” said Steacy of winning the Johnston Cup. “The Ontario Sires Stakes is something we take a lot of pride in. My dad’s been doing it for a long time and I’m his next generation, so it’s just a proud moment for all of us.”
Saturday’s event also saw the OSS 50th Anniversary celebration roll into Woodbine Mohawk Park. A booth was setup celebrating the lush history of the Sires Stakes.
“I think it’s the best program there is in the world,” said eight-time Johnston Cup winner McIntosh of the Sires Stakes program. “I really highly think of it.”
Complete results from Saturday’s program are available here and replays can be viewed on the Woodbine Mohawk Park website.
Ontario Sires Stakes action returns Monday, May 27 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with a Gold series race for three-year-old trotting fillies.
FEATURE IMAGE: James MacDonald was celebrated for winning the 2023 Lampman Cup as last year’s top driver (Photo credit: Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
IN-LINE PHOTO 1: ITS A LOVE THING (Photo credit: Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
IN-LINE PHOTO 2: GRIFF (Photo credit: Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
IN-LINE PHOTO 3: TROPHY TAKER (Photo credit: Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
IN-LINE PHOTO 4: CONVOY HALL (Photo credit: Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
IN-LINE PHOTO 5: NIJINSKY (Photo credit: Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
IN-LINE PHOTO 6: Shawn Steacy was celebrated for winning the 2023 Johnston Cup as last year’s top trainer (Photo credit: Clive Cohen/New Image Media)
More Top Racing Headlines