James MacDonald swept both Ontario Sires Stakes Gold divisions on Monday evening (Oct. 2) as the fifth leg of each division and succeeded first with a gate-to-wire triumph with new millionaire Righteous Resolve in the $159,000 split for three-year-old trotting fillies.
In their field scratched down to nine young trotting fillies, Righteous Resolve and MacDonald found their place on the gate in post eight. MacDonald wasted little time and sent the Matt Bax student right to the top. They rounded out panels in :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24.1 before fending off a fast-closing Mass Hysteria (Trevor Henry) in the stretch to win by a half-length in 1:52. Baroness Hill (Doug McNair) took the show spot.
"When she got to the front pretty easy, she shut the door, she knew what to do with it," said MacDonald.
Bet Max Stables Inc. and Benenati Inc. bred and co-own the three-year-old daughter of Resolve and the Muscle Mass mare Motown Muscle. With the victory, the sophomore filly soared her earnings past the $1 million milestone to $1,018,218 from a record of 11-5-4 in 20 starts. She has earned $394,514 this season with three wins, four seconds and three thirds to make a perfect 10 starts on the board.
"She raced well last week, I thought she was going to be super again tonight and she's been good all year," said MacDonald. "It seems the last few starts she's been trending back to how she was."
Righteous Resolve paid a $2.60 win ticket for her new lifetime mark performance.
MacDonald followed his third race performance in race six with Paige Austin trainee Hasty Bid in the $158,100 OSS Gold for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings.
From post eight in the field of nine, MacDonald and Hasty Bid rocketed from the outer wings and to the top. The Hazelton (Bob McClure) yielded the pylon control, but Hasty Bid was the first to nose out the opening panel in :27.1 from the outside. Hasty Bid assumed control along the pylons after that fraction and kept going through two more panels in :56.3 and 1:25.2. Down the lane, Ghostly Casper (Tyler Borth) gave chase and a fierce challenge in the final steps, but Hasty Bid stuck his nose out to win in 1:53.3. Osceola (McNair) grabbed third.
Hasty Bid is a three-year-old My Mvp gelding owned by 1000063663 Ontario Inc. and Paige Austin. He moved his seasonal tally to 2-6-1 in 11 starts with $357,090 earned. In his career, he boasts a record of 4-8-2 in 19 starts and $509,911 banked.
"He's been so good to us and we're pretty happy to have him," said Austin. "He's tough and he wants to win."
Hasty Bid returned a $2.80 win ticket.
The three-year-old Super Finals are slated to take place on Oct. 14 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.