The Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) 50th Anniversary Celebration continues Saturday, May 25 at Woodbine Mohawk Park with the 2024 Gold Series getting underway for the three-year-old pacing and trotting colts and pacing fillies with $520,000 up for grabs.
The evening of Gold events will kick off with sophomore trotting colts with $95,000 on the line in Race 2. Immediately afterwards, the three-year-old pacing fillies will race for $140,000 in Race 3.
That race will mark the return of 2023 O'Brien Award winner Pass Line to the OSS Gold stage. Owned by Burke Racing Stable (Fredericktown, Pa.), Weaver Bruscemi (Canonsburg, Pa.), Frank Baldachino (Harvey Cedars, N.J.), and Rich Lombardo Racing (Solon, Oh.), the All Bets Off filly dominated her two-year-old year, finishing atop the leaderboard while capturing the two-year-old pacing filly Super Final last October.
Trained again by David Menary, the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi homebred filly will have a familiar driver in the sulky behind her in Louis-Philippe Roy, who was at the lines for her runner-up effort in the SBOA Stakes on May 11 at Mohawk.
Alongside Pass Line in Race 3 will be another Menary-trained filly, 2023 O'Brien Award finalist Its A Love Thing, owned by Eric Good (Davidsonville, Md.), Thomas Biederman (Lexington), Joshua Green (Midway, Ky.) and Rich Lombardo Racing (Solon, Oh.). Bred by Marvin and Lynn Katz (Toronto) and Al Libfeld (Pickering, Ont.), the Bettors Delight filly (pictured above) will be driven by James MacDonald.
“They’re both very fancy,” said Menary of the talented fillies. “Its A Love Thing is more like the fanciest [Cadillac] Escalade you can get. She’s going to get you where you need to be in style. Whereas Pass Line is like the fanciest Tesla you can get. Her speed is like ‘Right Now!’”
For Menary, seeing Pass Line and Its A Love Thing battle against each other in the same division will prove to be difficult as he believes them both to be excellent horses.
“They’re both very, very special,” said Menary. “I’m sure they’re gonna take turns [winning races]. I think they’re both special and it’s hard to say which one’s better than the other.”
In addition to the two talented fillies, Menary also has a colt in a Gold race Saturday in Trophy Taker, who will be competing in Race 7, a $95,000 Gold Series race for three-year-old pacing colts.
Owned by Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi, Frank Baldachino and Lawrence Karr (Randolph, N.J.), and bred by Lynne Bowen (London, Ont.), Trophy Taker looks ready for the challenge.
“I like the look of the horse, I really like the way that he trained up,” said Menary of the All Bets Off colt. “But this is the deepest waters he’s seen in his life. Hopefully he’s up for it.”
MacDonald will be at the controls behind Trophy Taker on Saturday night. And as part of the evening’s festivities, the veteran driver will be presented with his 2023 Lampman Cup, the third straight time he’s won the top driver award.
Trainer Shawn Steacy will also receive his 2023 Johnston Cup on Saturday as last season’s top OSS trainer. This is the second time Steacy will win the award, putting him just one back of his father, Mark, for total Johnston Cups earned.
As part of the 50th Anniversary celebration, fans coming down to enjoy the races will also be able to view photos and memorabilia from seasons past along with giveaways, activity books for the young ones and a timeline illustrating the 50-year history of the OSS.
“Being from Ontario, the Sires Stakes has been so good to me my whole career,” said Menary. “We’re just so lucky that it’s a good program and it’s so close to home.”
Post time for the first race Saturday at Mohawk goes at 7:10 p.m. If you are unable to attend in person, visit the Woodbine Mohawk Park website for streaming information. You will be able to make a wager via HPIBet.
To view the entries for Saturday's card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, click the following link: Saturday Entries - Woodbine Mohawk Park.
(Ontario Racing)