Milton, ON — Its A Love Thing won the second race Friday (July 21) at Woodbine Mohawk Park, a C$102,200 Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) Gold division for 2-year-old pacing fillies.

James MacDonald kept Its A Love Thing off the pace set by leader Resilience out of post two through fractions of :27.1, :57 and 1:25.1, and was in fourth at the three-quarter pole. In the far turn, Doug McNair piloted Blazing Belle (Bettors Delight) into second to challenge Resilience and driver Louis-Philippe Roy, but Resilience remained in front. Then in deep stretch, Its A Love Thing came flying and they were two across at the line with Its A Love Thing crossing the wire first in 1:52.3.

Its A Love Thing flew from behind to win her OSS Gold split with driver James MacDonald. New Image Media photo.

“I think it takes a little more trust in the horse; it’s like a partnership out there. When I went to move her off cover, Trevor’s horse drifted out and she overreacted and went two-, three-wide,” said MacDonald. “I just tried to make sure I didn’t run up on someone before I moved her — maybe give her a little bit of extra room — because she likes doing her work.

“I had it in the back of my mind for sure, and I think the more she races and the more times I sit behind her, she’ll maybe learn to trust me and maybe not do it anymore.”

The Bettor’s Delight filly won an OSS Grassroots event in her previous start, and now has collected C$62,400 in OSS earnings this year for owners Eric Good, Thomas Biederman and Josh Green.

Its A Love Thing’s win paid $27.80, but it was something trainer David Menary knew she was capable of.

“She was my favorite all winter,” he said. “I want her to be known for being a good racehorse, not for having one eye, so that’s the game plan. All winter long, she should’ve trained with older horses, not babies. She had a couple bumps in the road; I thought she was a Gold filly all the way along, things are headed in the right direction, and hopefully they keep heading that way.”

Menary touched on Its A Love Thing and her being a strong contender.

“She just goes fast easy; she’s big. I’ve never had any real good big Bettor’s Delights; all my good ones were small, but they’re always tight at the wire.”

A full card of racing Friday contained a busy OSS night.

In race three, an OSS Gold division for 2-year-old pacing colts and geldings, Do Better (Bettor’s Delight) posted his third straight win. The third Gold division was race six on the card, and Odds On Platinum (Bettor’s Delight), driven by Sylvain Filion came away with the win. In the fourth and final OSS Gold division, carded as race seven, favorite Mirage Hanover (Bettors Delight) won his first OSS Gold with driver Bob McClure, becoming the fastest North American 2-year-old of 2023 with a 1:50.4 winning time.