Milton, ON — I Love Ongait emerged on top for trainer Dr. Ian Moore to take the opening round of the Whenuwishuponastar on Tuesday (July 27) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

I Love Ongait won by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55. New Image Media photo.

Driver Bob McClure motored his part of a Dr. Moore tandem to lead stablemate Flo to a :28.4 opening quarter. Flo circled from the pocket up the backstretch to take over control all while Nancy Takter trainee Balance, shipping north from two qualifiers at The Meadowlands, raced unhurried in fourth as the public’s top choice. With no pressure on the new pacesetter to the half, Flo clipped the beam in :59.

Balance got underway out of fourth rounding the final turn and made subtle gains to three-quarters, where McClure launched his charge out of second. Past three-quarters in 1:28.2, I Love Ongait slid past Flo and opened her lead as Balance raced rough gaited to the center of the track. McClure wrapped up his filly in the final sixteenth to win by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:55 chased home by Balance, with Flo finishing third, B My Sunshine fourth and Beyond The Sea rounding out the payees.

A homebred filly by Sunshine Beach-So In Love for Let It Ride Stables, co-owned by Bottom Line Racing and Mac Nichol, I Love Ongait collected her first victory following consecutive runner-up finishes against Ontario Sire Stakes Gold competition. Her maiden-breaking score pumps her earnings to $42,144 and paid $11.90 to win in the minor upset.

The 2-year-old pacing fillies will compete again in the second preliminary of the Whenuwishuponastar next Tuesday (Aug. 3). Racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park resumes on Thursday (July 29) with first-race post time set for 7 p.m. (EDT).