Northfield, OH – Odds On Platinum entered Saturday (August 10), looking to make it two-in-a-row, she was stepping up in class, but her connections were confident and for good reason as the daughter of Bettor’s Delight was an impressive winner in the $100,000 Courageous Lady at MGM Northfield Park.
There was a four-wide skirmish to the first turn with Sarasota Hanover (Scott Zeron), Odds On Platinum (David Miller), Wasted On You (Brett Miller), and Soft Shot (Justin Irvine) all battling for position. Sarasota Hanover cut the corner, and Odds On Platinum assumed pocket position, with Wasted On You finding a seat on the rail, but Irvine decided to take no prisoners, brushing to the front into the backstretch for the first time.
Soft Shot, who was facing stakes competition for the first time, grabbed the track and got the opening quarter in a dazzling :26.3. Irvine got a :28.4 breather, leading the field into the clubhouse turn for the final time, with Odds On Platinum driving up first-over for Miller.
Winning trainer Dr. Ian Moore wasn’t concerned with the testing fractions the field set early.
“I told him (Miller) that she could bust the gate if he needed to, but she does better chasing. She’s very long and has a long stride to her.”
At the mid-point of the backstretch, Soft Shot was holding her own, but when Miller pulled the plugs on Odds On Platinum at three-quarters in 1:23 she absolutely took off. Moving onto the far turn, Soft Shot gave way, and Odds On Platinum opened an insurmountable lead through the stretch, winning by 4-3/4 lengths in an eye popping 1:51.2.
“That’s a pretty big mile here on a cool night,” said Dr. Moore. “She’s trained on a half the last two summers; I didn’t have any concerns. She’s getting better with every start.
Owned by Let It Ride Stables, and Odds On racing, the 3-year-old pushed her earnings to $454,413. It was her sixth career victory in 21 lifetime starts.