Elora, ON — Ontario’s top 2-year-old pacing fillies traveled to Grand River Raceway Wednesday (Aug. 17) for a pair of C$102,200 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions.

OSS action began in race four with Starlight Dancer emerging victorious from the eight-horse field.

Doug McNair drove No Soup Tonight to the lead from post two and led the field through opening fractions of :28.1 and :58.3. Jody Jamieson and Brynley Seelster began a first-up move as the field passed the grandstand for the first time and pressured No Soup Tonight for the next quarter mile. Unfortunately for Jamieson and his filly, odds-on favorite Starlight Dancer followed second-up from fourth, and Johnathan Drury angled three-wide around the far turn to take the lead and power home in a final panel of :29.1 for a three-quarter-length score in 1:56.4. Tre Ta Ta found racing room down the stretch and finished a hard-charging second; Brynley Seelster

It was the first stakes win for the daughter of Artspeak, who visited the winner’s circle once prior, on June 23 at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Melissa Lamoureux trainee is owned by 1187422 Ontario Inc, and paid $3.80 to win.

In the second division, Savethelastdance stayed undefeated in her young career, winning her third consecutive start, but first at the top level of the OSS.
The Bettors’ Delight filly made her half-mile track debut after her previous victories came over the seven-eighths-mile oval at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

After moving to the lead through the first turn, Savethelastdance went off stride, but James MacDonald was able to get her back on gait and still hold the lead.
The Nick Gallucci trainee held off separate challenges – first from Lyons Bettorday and then a late-charging Beca Mitchell in the stretch — to prove the best all the way home in 1:55. Beca Mitchell charged late for second; Big Big Plans was a ground-saving third.

“Going into the race, the only concern with her was going to a new place,” said Gallucci, who conditions the filly for Millar Farms. “I think that has to do with why she made a break in the first turn. She doesn’t seem to react well to changes, so the biggest concern was not the track size, but just being at a new track.”

The filly, who paid $2.90 to win, will return to the familiar confines of Woodbine Mohawk Park for the remainder of the season, where Gallucci believes she can continue her strong form to start her campaign.

“She is used to that track, and so she should stay flat there,” said Gallucci. “She has a lot of big dances left, so we will do the best we can. She is definitely progressing and has speed, but we are just trying to rate it a little bit.”