Reigning divisional champion L A Delight soared over the million-dollar mark in career earnings with her first victory outside of Canada in the $140,000 Nadia Lobell for three-year-old filly pacers on Saturday afternoon (August 27) at The Meadows.

Driven by Dave Palone for trainer Bob McIntosh, L A Delight defeated I Said Diamonds in a career-best clocking of 1:49.1, just missing the track record by one-fifth of a second.

Palone attempted to leave with L A Delight from post five, but insider I Said Diamonds (Jim Pantaleano) forged on through a :26.2 first quarter. L A Delight settled into the pocket position around the first turn and followed the leader through middle panels of :54.2 and 1:22. Meanwhile, Kiss Me Onthebeach (John Campbell) advanced from the back of the four-pack of fillies that were still in contention after Call Me Queen Be (Scott Zeron) broke stride behind the gate and she moved up to second-place by the third quarter mark, but the race was between I Said Diamonds and L A Delight as they came off the final turn. L A Delight closed through the passing lane in a :26.4 final quarter to edge out I Said Diamonds by half a length. Yankee Moonshine (Yannick Gingras) finished third over Kiss Me Onthebeach.

L A Delight was the betting favourite at odds of 7-5 and paid $4.80 to win.

Less than a couple thousand dollars shy of the million-dollar mark entering the Nadia Lobell, the winner’s share of the purse pushed L A Delight’s career bankroll to $1,068,329.

After going 11-for-12 and earning over $700,000 in her award-winning freshman campaign, she has won six of her 10 races so far this year while adding another $363,994 to her bankroll.

The homebred daughter of Bettors Delight and West Of L A is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. Windsor, Ont., C S X Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. Leamington, Ont.

More to come on Saturday’s harness racing card.

(Standardbred Canada)