The third race of the Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold Super Final saw the second straight upset of the night on Saturday (Oct. 15) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, with Mischevious Rose besting heavily favoured Adare Castle at the finish.
The three-year-old trotting fillies finale came down to the wire, with the victor pulling ahead of the odds-on favourite in deep stretch.
“In a sprint duel, I really like [Mischevious Rose’s] chances there and she was on top of her game tonight,” driver Louis-Philippe Roy said after the race.
The victory by the trainee of Luc Blais, who lives in Campbellville, Ont., sent the winner’s share of the $225,000 purse the way of Montreal-based Determination stable, owned by Serge Godin. Mischevious Rose paid $10.70 for the win.
Adare Castle, the heavily bet favourite, led the race through each of its first three quarters.
Driven by James MacDonald of Guelph, Ont. and trained Mark Etsell of Rockwood, Ont., the champion filly had won 14 of the 20 races in her career.
Adare Castle set opening quarters of :28.3 and :58.1, and the daughter of Muscle Mass extended her lead entering the third panel while the eventual victor trailed two spots behind in the single-file pack.
Just after the three-quarter mark, which was clocked at 1:26.2, Mischevious Rose moved from third along the pylons behind Baby Longstocking and the leader.
The upset winner trotted a :26.4 final quarter to overtake Adare Castle in deep stretch. Mischevious Rose’s 1:54 winning time is the fastest in her career.
Roy said after the race that the way it unfolded was to the benefit of Mischevious Rose.
“I know my filly, she can sprint a lot,” said the driver who lives in Mississauga, Ont. “I think in the long term, Adare Castle… seems like she never gets tired. [I thought] if we got a shot maybe tonight — if it’s a sprint down the lane — that maybe it could help us, and it did.”
The Super Final victory was Mischevious Rose’s second ever Ontario Sires Stakes Gold win and first in 2022. She had one second-place finish and was third three times in her five OSS starts this season.
Mischevious Rose’s career mark improves to 4-7-5 from 22 starts and she now has $422,457 in career earnings with just over half coming from her Ontario Sires Stakes finishes.
Just before driving the upset winner of the third Super Final, Roy did the same in the second race of the evening, urging DWs Point Man to victory.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Ontario Racing)