CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Last year’s queen of the freshman trotting division earned her first three-year-old crown with a victory in her Gold Elimination at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday night. Pepi Lavec survived a tough trip to capture the second of three Gold Eliminations by three-quarters of a length in 2:01.2.
Leaving from Post 7 the Mr Lavec daughter and driver Paul MacDonell landed third on the outside in the early going and rarely saw the pylons throughout the remainder of the mile. Up and driving before the three-quarter mark, Pepi Lavec took over the lead through the final turn and hung on gamely for the win over Imnosuckybaby and Trenna Seelster.
“She raced big tonight. Right back to where she was last year,” said trainer John Bax, who shares ownership on the winner of $307,726 with Glengate Farms of Campbellville. “She dug in down the lane. I couldn’t have asked for any better.”
The Peterborough resident also trained Natashas Kiss to a third-place finish in the first Elimination and Gramolas Image to a fourth in the last of three Gold contests. Pepi Lavec and Natashas Kiss are guaranteed spots in next Monday’s $130,000 Gold Final and Gramolas Image could advance if her name is drawn from among the fourth-placed contestants.
The other two Ontario Sires Stakes trophies went home with brothers Paul and Larry Walker. Paul opened the Walker show when his Early Secret delivered an upset victory in the second race. The Earl daughter, who was last season’s Grassroots Champion and finished second to Pepi Lavec in the Canadian Breeders Championship, went directly to the front from Post 8 and never needed to glance back, coasting home to a 2:01.4 victory. Dietrich finished one length behind Early Secret and Natashas Kiss was another length and three quarters back in third.
Paul Walker trains Early Secret for Malcolm MacPhail of Dover Centre and breeder William Loyens of London, and Keith Oliver piloted her to Monday night’s win.
Larry Walker followed his brother’s foot steps to the winner’s circle after Race 6 with favourite Taste Test, who scored an easy two and a half length victory in her Ontario Sires Stakes debut. The Mr Lavec filly stopped the clock in 2:01.2 to score her second win in just her third lifetime start. Give Me Samoa and Smoky Sunset rounded out the top three.
Walker trains Taste Test for Spring Eternal Stable of Sutton West, who have already banked $38,198 during their filly’s brief career.
The top three fillies from each Gold Elimination and one fourth-placed finisher will make a return appearance at Mohawk Racetrack on May 20 for their $130,000 Gold Series Final.