After being rescheduled from the June 30 cancellation, two divisions of the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Leg 2 for three-year-old trotting fillies were contested at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (July 6) evening and the winner's share of the $103,100 purse for each race went to Righteous Resolve and Muscling Vegas.
Righteous Resolve (Resolve - Motown Muscle) made her 2023 debut and OSS Gold debut a winning one with a new career mark.
James MacDonald was in the bike as the pair went to the gate as the bettors' choice from post two in the field of nine. Righteous Resolve got away fifth off the car and continued on the rail through the quarter in :26.4 and half in :55.3 before following Stonebridge Bravo (Dagfin Henriksen) on a second-over trip through the three-quarters in 1:23.4. In a sprint down the stretch, Righteous Resolve powered on the outside to a half-length achievement in 1:53. Baroness Hill (Doug McNair) took second and Stonebridge Bravo rounded out the top three.
“James is a pro. He knows how to campaign the horse and take care of them if you can,” said trainer Matt Bax. “There were hot fractions early and he was smart enough to take it easy. He’s maybe got some ice water in his veins where he can sit chilly back there, I was sweating though.”
Righteous Resolve is a career winner of $675,254 with a record of 9-1-1 in 11 starts. Bax trains the three-year-old filly for Bet Max Stables Inc. and Benenati Inc.
Muscling Vegas (Muscle Mass - Vegas Virgin) was picked by the betting public for third, but the sophomore filly overpowered her field from post six on a gate-to-wire trip to win in a career best.
Paul MacDonell left out of the gate with Muscling Vegas, taking the lead and never looking back as they set the tempo through fractions in :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24.3. She did not stop there as she continued to surge forward in the stretch to take the victory by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:53.1. Wedding Dancer (Doug McNair) followed the pocket trip to second and Enola (Tyler Borth) finished third. Muscling Vegas paid $15.80 to win.
“She can make a driver look pretty good. She’s push button at all times. She’s so smart and she’s just a pleasure to have in the barn," said MacDonell. "Her honesty is going to take her so far. She wants to trot. She wants to give you what she has every night and you can’t ask for anymore in a racehorse than that.”
MacDonell trains the winner for Chris and Michael Storms. Muscling Vegas only had one start in her freshman year, a winning one. Now, the filly has made her sophomore year a standout appearance, taking home $176,440 this season with a record of 3-4-1 in 10 starts.
On the undercard, the $25,000 Pop Up Series final was contested and Heavensdor Hanover (Jody Jamieson) completed his sweep of the series, winning by a nose in 1:54.3 for trainer Herbert Holland.
The Canam Banker (Trevor Henry; 1:57.2), Staying With Emily (Doug McNair; 1:53.2) and Valuable Miss (Trevor Henry; 1:59.2) each took victories in their respective $16,000 classes for two-year-olds.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.