Waples was in the Shes A Great Lady Stakes to work out a winning trip aboard two-year-old pacing filly L A Delight, who extended her streak to eight with a career-best 1:51.2 triumph.

Elimination winner Thatsoveryverynice left from post three and crossed over to command ahead of insiders Three Dreams and Albany Girl through a :27.3 first quarter. Meanwhile, Darlinonthebeach was advancing on the outside after a post six start and she eventually worked past the early leader, but had 3-5 favourite L A Delight, the other elim winner, on her back. L A Delight brushed by at the half in :54.3 and cruised past three-quarters in 1:23 without facing any challengers before drawing off by two and three-quarter lengths in the stretch. Darlinonthebeach chased her home in second-place and Thatsoveryverynice finished third. L A Delight paid $3.30 to win.

The Bettors Delight-West Of L A filly is owned and bred by the Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of Windsor, Ont., Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington, Ont. and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio. She is now eight-for-nine in her career with earnings soaring over $406,000.

Training down, McIntosh said he underestimated L A Delight, but once she hit the racetrack, he knew he had a special filly on his hands.

“I knew she had the pedigree to be a good filly, but when she came in she was just an ordinary-looking filly and training down she was one of those ones that was very workman-like about her job, but did nothing to stand out,” said McIntosh. “I thought I had a couple of fillies better than her, but they’re back in the barn. When it came time to race, she just kicked it in and she was a total professional.”

(WEG)