by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — Friday night’s (August 22) Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association Stakes at Mohawk celebrates the cream of the crop of 3-year-old fillies. And this year, two sophomore lasses are poised to dominate in their fields.

On the trotting side, last year’s standout filly, Bella Dolce, is the 1-5 morning line favorite for the C$201,300 SBOA contest (race three, post time 8:10 p.m.). The daughter of Kadabra and Pizza Dolce had a sputtering start to her 3-year-old season thanks to a torn gluteal muscle, but since recovering from that injury she has been on fire, proving unbeatable in her last five starts, including the C$191,206 Canadian Breeders’ Championship, and the C$120,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final on August 8 at Mohawk.

She was unassailable in last week’s SBOA elim, sailing to victory 3-1/2 lengths in front of her nearest rival, Gaelic Mistress, and is perfectly positioned to stretch her win streak to six on Friday, with the advantages of post position three and driver Paul MacDonell assigned to drive.

Bella Dolce has been hanging her harness bag in the shedrow of Kevin O’Reilly during her summer stint in Ontario, and has earned $235,951 in 2008 for owner/breeder David Duffee.

Among the pacers, Chancey Lady, the little filly with the big step, is similarly on a roll. Rated the 4-5 favorite going into her C$179,300 SBOA final among a field of eight, she is expected to expand her win streak to four for trainer John Pentland and owner Niele Jiwan.

Chancey Lady has earned $541,581 so far in 2008, with victories in the C$140,000 OSS Gold Finals at London’s Western Fair and Mohawk (in May and August, respectively) among her triumphs. The Camluck daughter also trounced Artimitateslife and the well-regarded Tug River Princess in the C$733,031 Fan Hanover Stakes in June, in a new lifetime best clocking of 1:51.1.

Pentland, who took over training duties on Chancey Lady about six weeks ago, says, “She’s just a sweetheart, and a real natural to train, but she does have issues with tying up. I think we’ve got her figured out now to keep her from doing that, but we do watch her pretty closely.

“It’s going to be kind of a funny race. We drew the six hole, which I don’t exactly see as an advantage, and (Tom) Artandi’s filly, I’m Just Special is to her outside in post eight, which could factor in. She’s a really nice filly and one of these nights she’s going to catch us.

“I really don’t know how it’s going to set up, but so far I think Chancey Lady prefers to chase them down than be on the front end. The two times I’ve raced her, she was far better off the pace. She’s not a hot horse, so you can wait with her. The only thing about her is she can be a little tricky to get off the gate, but if Mike (Saftic) brings her up to it rather than sitting on it, she should be okay.”

Pentland also remarks that his relationship with owner Niele Jiwan has been very positive so far.

“He’s been very easy to deal with, contrary to what some people have said about him. He hasn’t interfered in any way with the way I train — he just wants to be involved and I think owners have every right to do that.”

Jiwan will no doubt be watching closely as Chancey Lady goes postward this Friday in race nine, post time 10:10 p.m. (EDT).