MILTON, September 12, 2019 – Trainer Bob McIntosh will send his Ohio-bred star Only Take Cash from the rail into her first major Grand Circuit foray, the $376,000 Elegantimage Final, this Saturday at Woodbine Mohawk Park. A daughter of Cash Hall bred and owned by Bob McIntosh Stables Inc. and co-owned by Dave Boyle and Mardon Stables, Only Take Cash has raced almost exclusively on the Ohio Sires Stakes (OHSS) circuit. With 14 wins from 17 starts, Only Take Cash has accrued nearly $600,000 in earnings and made Bob McIntosh the third trainer in harness racing history to earn over $100 million in purses. “I didn’t realize I was only the third guy to do that so that made it a little extra special,” McIntosh said. “It feels great.” Only Take Cash made her Grand Circuit debut on Aug. 23 when winning an $83,123 division of the Casual Breeze at Woodbine Mohawk Park. McIntosh staked her lightly due to her broodmare, Armbro Affair, not producing high-earning offspring. “This filly trained good all spring,” McIntosh said, “but I thought ‘Oh, she’s just a sires stakes filly in Ohio that’ll be enough.’ But then after she showed her stuff last year in Ohio, I did put her in a few more things this year. She had to prove herself to me first.” Only Take Cash dominated the OHSS as a two-year-old, losing on one occasion. She won the $275,000 championship by over five lengths and maintained her top-level form to defend her title in the $300,000 championship this year. “It was pretty evident about halfway through last year that she was a little special,” McIntosh said. “She’s the ultimate professional filly. She has no wasted motion or gait—you can leave with her, take her back, do anything you want; she’s got the most efficient gait of any trotter I’ve ever trained. She’s not real big, but she’s compact and just special.” Trevor Henry pilots Only Take Cash from post-one. After many outside draws in OHSS prelims, McIntosh joked that he “was starting to get a little suspicious.” But – while drawing well as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line—Only Take Cash faces her toughest competition to date, with Hambletonian Oaks-winner When Dovescry starting from post-three, Zweig Memorial-winner The Ice Dutchess from post-nine and Evident Beauty from post-ten. When asked if she can compete with the top fillies, McIntosh said “That’s the million-dollar question I guess. I’ll say this: she won’t embarrass herself. Anything this filly does is not going to shock me. I think we can make a little noise and get a good paycheck out of it. And to get it all that would be extra nice. Hopefully we snag a prize. If we snag the big one, there’ll be a lot of celebrating. It’ll be a long night.” The Elegantimage Final, carded as Race 10, is the companion feature to Saturday’s headlining event, the $605,000 Canadian Trotting Classic. Frosh trotting fillies also compete in the $405,000 Peaceful Way Final while the two-year-old trotting colts contest in the $370,000 William Wellwood Memorial. The 12-race program also features two eliminations for the Shes A Great Lady and two eliminations for the Metro Pace. Saturday’s card starts with first-race post at 7:30 p.m. (EDT). Share This:Share
