from the Ontario Sires Stakes

Flamboro, ON — This weekend may not be as exciting as the last one for Peterborough, Ontario, trainer John Bax who enjoyed a huge night at Mohawk this past Saturday when his 2-year-old trotting fillies finished one-two-three in the C$380,000 Peaceful Way final and his champion from last year, Riveting Rosie, was an impressive second in the C$409,000 Elegantimage final.

Riveting Rosie, who captured the Peaceful Way final last year at two, was dominant among the freshman trotting fillies last season and was named Canada’s 2-year-old Trotting Filly of the Year at the conclusion of the season. This year she’s had her share of issues but she’s still been able to compile a summary of 1-2-2 in 11 starts for $156,438 in earnings, $609,056 lifetime from just 19 career starts. Bax’s Parkhill Stud shares ownership of the daughter of Muscle Mass with Don Allensen, J And T Stable Newmarket and John Hayes.

“It’s just been one thing after another with her this year. Every time you think you’ve got everything straightened out something else happens to her,” noted Bax following the Elegantimage where Riveting Rosie finished nine lengths behind winner Shake It Cerry.

“I was really happy with her. If she could have gotten out earlier, she wouldn’t have been nine lengths behind. It was the first race where she put it all together, she left hard and finished well.

“I think she’s better on the front or first up because then she can get her stride going. She doesn’t trot as pretty when she’s doubled up, in a hole. Having said that, she got away with that at two (intimidating her opposition) and usually you find out at three you’ve got to race. It’s a learning process and I like it when they learn when we’re going for $400,000,” he laughed.

Riveting Rosie won’t have much time to rest on her most recent accomplishment as she’s back in to race this Sunday at Flamboro in the first of two C$105,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions. She’s drawn post one in the first split, race three, with her usual pilot Paul MacDonell in the sulky.

Right alongside in post two is this division’s leading point earner, White Becomes Her, with Mario Baillargeon at the lines for brother Ben who trains for owner Twilight Stables.

The filly with the second highest number of points in this division, Muscle Babe, has post five in the second division which goes postward as the 10th race on the program. James MacDonald will guide the Muscle Mass daughter for owner Kjell Andersen and trainer Dave Menary.

Riveting Rosie currently sits in third in the point standings, but that all may change after her performance on Sunday. What will also change within the next few months is the time it takes for her trainer to truck to race at many of Ontario’s tracks.

“I’m in the process of buying the main farm at Glengate Farm (just outside of Campbellville, about five minutes from Mohawk). Every time I drive by it I think, ‘gee, in five minutes I’d be home instead of two hours.’ The wear and tear of going up and down the road, it wears on you that’s for sure. Hopefully it will be settled this fall and we’d like to move in next spring.”

This is the next to last OSS Gold event for this group who will meet once more, on Sept. 30 at Mohawk, before the Oct. 11 Super Final. To view the complete card for Flamboro on Sunday, which starts at 6 p.m., please click here.