by Greg Blanchard, WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — Two of the top 3-year-old filly trotters in the sport, Bella Dolce and Creamy Mimi, duked it out in one of two Simcoe Stakes divisions on Thursday night (September 4) at Mohawk with Bella Dolce getting the upper hand in a thrilling finish. The other C$134,926 division fell to longshot Kadealia.

Bella Dolce defeated Creamy Mimi by one length in their Simcoe Stakes division.

In what has become her patented first-over style, Bella Dolce went toe-to-toe with race favorite Creamy Mimi for much of the final half in the opening division before muscling her way to the lead late in the mile. Paul MacDonell asked the filly for more in the stretch and Bella Dolce used a :27.2 final quarter to clinch the win with the Hambletonian Oaks champion holding second and Torch rounding out the top three.

Bella Dolce, a daughter of Kadabra-Pizza Dolce, has now won seven of 13 starts this year for trainer Kevin O’Reilly and owner David McDuffee, after going winless in her first six outings. The lion’s share of the C$134,926 purse increased her career bankroll to $709,007.

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Kadealia won her Simcoe Stakes split for driver Jack Moiseyev in 1:56.4.

Kadealia took advantage of early breaks in stride by race favorite Prada Hall and Single Pans Reflex to seize control of the second split and then held on for a gate-to-wire tally in 1:56.4. Huge longshots Abby Kadabra and Lass Chance finished second and third, respectively.

The winner returned $31.70 on the nose and triggered a triactor worth just under $7,000.

Jack Moiseyev guided the daughter of Kadabra-New Ideal to her first win of the campaign in 16 starts for trainer Brenda Teague and owner Elmer Fanning. The winner’s share of the purse vaulted her to $103,932 in season’s earnings.