Demers aiming for trip to the bank in OSS Gold action
At 1h14, on July 13, 2023 • By Austin Stanton, Ontario Racing
Hit The Bank’s pari-mutuel debut Thursday night (July 13) at Woodbine Mohawk Park in race four, a C$103,100 Ontario Sires Stakes division for 2-year-old trotting fillies, will give trainer Gerard Demers a chance at his first OSS win of 2023.
Hit The Bank — from the first crop of Breeders Crown winner The Bank — has qualified twice at Mohawk, and they both showed her talent in different ways. On July 4, she led the for the majority of the mile, and trotted in 1:59 to win by a length.
“That was the first time she cut a mile and she fought right to the wire and did it pretty easy,” said Demers. “I think she is better chasing horses than cutting the mile, but she did both, so I am happy with it.”
Two weeks earlier in her first qualifier, Hit The Bank made a small mistake in the first turn, but rebounded nicely to finish fifth.
“We had trained her faster already than the time in the first qualifier and she made a little break in the first turn,” said Demers. “I think they were going too slow, so she doubled up, but she come a good last quarter in :27.1 and (driver Jody Jamieson) said after the qualifier ‘you have a nice one here.’”
Demers purchased Hit The Bank at the 2022 Ontario Select Yearling Sale. She caught his attention in the stall, and he was sold, no pun intended, when she was brought out to sell.
“She has a beautiful conformation,” said Demers. “She looked so good, and I said I am going to buy her.”
From day one training down she’s had a good head on her, and while Demers wasn’t seeking out one of The Bank’s progeny, he’s very happy with the one he has.
“I really like her and everyone I talk to they say The Bank’s all look good so far,” said Demers. “She is big and strong, and has everything going for her. She just needs to learn how to go fast.”
The other Gold division for freshman fillies is in race six, where ten entrants will race for C$104,000. There are also six Grassroots divisions for 2-year-old trotting fillies on the card with C$135,000 in total purses.
