Saundra In A Golden Shocker

Three-year-old trotting fillies started their Ontario Sires Stakes Gold season on Monday, June 6 at Woodbine Mohawk Park, and just like their pacing contemporaries it was upset win over a heavy favourite.

Saundra, making her OSS debut for trainer Benoit Baillargeon, went off at 19-1 from post seven and won the $157,200 division by a length over 2-5 favourite Adare Castle.

“Adare Castle was definitely the horse to beat tonight,” said Baillargeon. “Until we beat her, I didn’t know if I was ever going to beat her, but our mare was sharp tonight.”

Sylvain Filion piloted Saundra into third position as they entered the first turn and trailed an opening panel of :27.3 set by Hang On Baby, with Adare Castle sitting fourth. The daughter of Resolve made her move mid-way through the backstretch.

“Sylvain got away third and he wasn’t going to give cover to Adare Castle,” said Baillargeon. “So, when he made his move, he went to the front and it worked. The mare responded very well.”

Through three-quarters of a mile, Saundra led by a length. Adare Castle slid behind for cover as the pair entered the stretch, but the Thomas Rankin homebred was more than game, trotting home in :28 for her first career stakes score in a time of 1:53.2.

Saundra is out of World Class Image, who produced R First Class, a trotting gelding who won the OSS Super Final as a three-year-old in 2017. Baillargeon trained R First Class and World Class Izzy, an OSS Grassroots winner from the same family.

“Mr. Rankin told me last year that she was a nice mare, said Baillargeon. “They all have speed, but she has smarts on top of it.”

This was the first OSS start for Saundra, who made her debut in October of 2021. She won her first time out and a leg of the Ontario Sired Harvest Series to post a 2-0-0 record in four starts.

Shane Weber conditioned her last year for Rankin and he qualified the filly to start her three-year-old campaign before transitioning her to Baillargeon’s barn.

“That’s the relationship I have with Mr. Rankin,” said Baillargeon. “The boys on the farm start them off, then they come to me. This mare is a very naturally gaited trotter. Shane did a good job with her.”

The $78,600 for first place pushed Saundra over $136,000 in career earnings.

“She’s a good mare,” said Baillargeon. “There’s another girl in town now.”

Adare Castle held on to finish second. The daughter of Muscle Mass has 12 career starts and a record of 9-3-0 for trainer Mark Etsell and his ownership partners Robert Newton, Graham Hopkins and Peter Porter.

Wheeling N Dealin filly Portofino was third to round out a $1 trifecta that paid $999.20. She showed late speed for trainer Ken Sucee, with Paul MacDonell driving her home in a final quarter mile of :27.4.

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Ontario Racing)