You only get one shot at making a first impression, and two-year-old pacing filly Thatsoveryverynice left a lasting one on anyone that happened to catch her magical debut Monday evening at Mohawk Racetrack.
Thatsoveryverynice was treated to a ground-saving trip in her $70,000 OSS Gold Series division, and she parlayed it into a OSS record-setting performance of 1:51.2 for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Tony Alagna.
Heavily-favoured Thisorthat Hanover tossed out a wild opening quarter clocked in :26.1, and she continued to lead the way through fractions of :55.4 and 1:23.4. Jamieson, in the meantime, had hit charge sitting in mid-pack for most of the mile before asking her to step to the outside and sprint. She stormed home in :26.2 to win by three lengths over Golden Idol. Thisorthat Hanover weakened late and settled for third prize.
Sent off at odds of 4-1, Thatsoveryverynice is owned by Alagna Racing LLC of Manalapan, New Jersey. The filly from the first crop of Vintage Master is the fourth foal out of the Richess Hanover mare, Fox Valley Zena. She’s a 100% producing mare, and this is her first filly – and what a very, very good one she is!
The second division belonged two Keystone Paula, who made two big moves in the mile en route to winning in 1:54.1 for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Erv Miller.
Filion hustled his charge to the lead from Post 9 and had her slicing out the opening quarter in a :28-second clip. Maniana popped the pocket in the backstretch, and she cleared and proceeded to carve out middle splits of :58.2 and 1:27. The leader wandered off the rail in the lane, however, while feeling pressure from race favourite Kays Shadow. Keystone Paula took advantage of the opening at the pylons and roared home in a :27-second clip to win by two lengths. Kays Shadow was next best, with Stonebridge Pearl rallying for third prize.
The daughter of Bettors Delight-Take My Pulse, who was purchased for $32,000 at last year’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale, is owned by Paymaq Racing, Greg Gillis, Louis Willinger and George Golemes. She was sent off as a 13-1 outsider in the rich tilt.
Twin B Thong made an authoritative move to the lead in the backstretch, and once she cleared it was game over for the others.
Chris Christoforou got away fourth with his charge in the third division, but he quickly had her in gear in the second quarter. She led the group through middle fractions of :56 and 1:25 before turning on the afterburners in the lane. Her :27.1 closing quarter earned her the win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1. Free Show was the runner-up, with Betty Hill taking home the show dough.
West Wins Stable, Mac Nichol and Steve Calhoun own the daughter of Sportswriter-Beach Bound, who was a $65,000 purchase from last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale. She’s a sister to a number of big money winners including Sea Dragon (1:50.3 - $336,917), Twin B Hollister (1:51.4 - $323,920) and Twin B Speedo (1:50.3 - $261,079).
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Mohawk Racetrack.