Prohibitive 1-9 favourite Righteous Resolve, Canada’s fastest trotting two-year-old of 2022, once again showed her class in taking her division's $225,000 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Super Final on Saturday night (Oct. 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
Scott Zeron and Cardio Muscle made the front early, launching from the outside post to circle Its Your Choice and James MacDonald before the first turn. Mass Hysteria and Trevor Henry left from post nine and followed from third, just ahead of the star filly Righteous Resolve, who Paul MacDonell settled in nicely from post three. Cardio Muscle led to the :27.2 opening quarter, but had no answer when the first-over Righteous Resolve came calling and smoothly sailed past to lead the way to the :56.3 half.
Louis-Philippe Roy sent Shiny New Penny first to tip on the turn for home, emerging from sixth and flushing out Mass Hysteria from fourth. But MacDonell’s filly was never headed as she reached three-quarters in 1:26 and continued with confidence down the stretch. Mass Hysteria left the loose pocket to chase the favourite in second as Its Your Choice and Shiny New Penny battled behind her for third. At the wire, Righteous Resolve finished 2-1/2 lengths ahead of Mass Hysteria in a 1:54.4 mile. Its Your Choice finished third ahead of Shiny New Penny.
In the winner's circle, MacDonell said Righteous Resolve ranked highly among the best young trotters he’s driven.
“I mean, she’s so professional in everything she does and she makes my job real easy, so she’s way up there in the top echelon of trotting fillies, for sure,” said MacDonell. “My job is just to keep her out of trouble and make sure we have a clear path and no nonsense, and that's what I try to do — try to keep her quiet and just let her do the rest, and she does it.”
Leading 2022 OSS trainer John Bax reflected on his stable’s seasonal success.
“We’re real proud of the year we got," said Bax. "A lot of horses have made good money and that’s hard to do. I mean, a lot of years, you're lucky to get one, so we're pretty blessed this year.”
He said that the filly’s owners’ decision to bypass the Mohawk Million was “a testament to the owners like Roy [Maxwell], who are looking after what's best for the horse… Hopefully for their sake and our sake, it pays out in the long run.”
Righteous Resolve (Resolve-Motown Muscle) is owned by Bet Max Stables Inc. of Casco, Mich. and Benenati Inc. of Clinton Township, Mich. She now has $536,224 in earnings, $290,675 of which have come in the OSS.
Before leaving the packed winner's circle, Roy Maxwell — a partner in Bet Max Stable — described the experience of owning the filly phenom, who has been defeated just once in nine starts.
“It’s unbelievable. You don't expect something like this to come along, but when it comes around, you sure enjoy it," said Maxwell. "What a lady, what a night."
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Ontario Racing)