Its A Love Thing Wins She’s A Great Lady

MILTON, September 23, 2023— Dave Menary pupil Its A Love Thing had her one eye and whole mind on the $540,000 prize and succeeded in a first-over push to overpower her peers and win the She’s A Great Lady final on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Starting from post 5, driver James MacDonald floated forward with Its A Love Thing to race fourth as My Girl EJ swooped to lead Caviart Belle after a :26.4 first quarter. Caviart Belle, the 3-2 second choice in the betting, circled to retake the lead up the backside and then clicked by a :55.1 half.

As Caviart Belle tried to peel away through the final turn, MacDonald gave Its A Love Thing her cue and began marching uncovered after the leader. Caviart Belle led by three-quarters in 1:23.1 but quickly came under siege with Its A Love Thing adding pressure all through the stretch. Its A Love Thing slid to the lead in the final eighth and withstood a late charge from Odds On Platinum, who shook free from a pylon ride and settled for second beaten a length. My Girl EJ nabbed third from Caviart Belle.

“She raced huge [in the Eternal Camnation] – you just can’t give away those kinds of lengths to great horses,” James MacDonald said on his more off-the-pace drive with Its A Love Thing when she lost to Caviart Belle. “She’s just a great filly and she proved again tonight [that] if I put her in an okay spot she can do some damage.”

“I’ve had a lot of nice fillies, but I’ve never been standing here,” trainer Dave Menary said. “When you race in Ontario, especially with Ontario breds, you dream of being in the She’s A Great Lady or the Metro and getting the job done. I’m happy to be standing here.”

Its A Love Thing has now won six races from nine starts; not missing the board in any of the nine. The daughter of Bettors Delight banked $486,446 for owners Eric Good, Thomas Biederman and Joshua Green and paid $4.80 to win as the 7-5 favourite.

By Ray Cotolo, for Woodbine