by Greg Blanchard, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Campbellville, ON — Milliondollarsmile set a track and Ontario Sires Stakes record in capturing the C$130,000 Gold Final for 3-year-old filly pacers on Sunday night (July 2) at Mohawk Racetrack with a scintillating 1:50.2 effort for driver Randy Waples.

The clocking erased the former OSS mark of 1:50.3 set by Burning Point at Woodbine back in 2003 and lowered the Mohawk track mark of 1:50.3 which was co-held by Red Star Biggirl and Darlin’s Delight.

With Waples picking up the catch drive, the daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Hilarious got away third in the early stages as Canadette rocketed to the front from post nine and put up a big opening quarter of :26.4. As the solid pace continued, Milliondollarsmile was content to stay put in third through the first half of :54.4.

Waples ultimately decided to start his filly up in the third quarter and was right up alongside the pacesetter at the third panel in 1:23 with favorite Michelle’s Power following right on his back. But, as the field straightened up for the finish, Milliondollarsmile found another gear and kicked clear with a powerful :27.2 final quarter. Mach You And Me came on to pick up the place spot with Simply Mavelous rallying for third. Michelle’s Power came up flat and faded to fourth.

“To tell the truth, I really wanted to follow Jody (Jody Jamieson, driving Michelle’s Power) or Paul (Paul MacDonell, driving Mach You And Me),” said Randy Waples during a winner’s circle interview. “She was really keen tonight. Mark (driver Mark MacDonald who drove last week in the elimination) told me last week that she raced huge and had lots of pace and was caught in. I didn’t want to get a wrestling match with her tonight, so I let her roll out of there on her own. It wasn’t my first game plan but it worked out.

“It’s hard to tell with her if she could have gone a bit more or not,” he said. “She is the type who looks after herself. I was chasing her pretty good late because I was expecting Paul or Jody to be coming hard and wanted to keep as much distance between myself and them as I could.”

Sunday night’s win was the fourth in 10 starts this season for Milliondollarsmile who is trained by Shawn Robinson for owners Morris, Brett and Connor Wright of Ontario. The winner’s share of the purse increased her career bankroll to just over $140,000.