REXDALE, ON — There was not much superstition in the air at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday night as fans overwhelmingly endorsed three-year-old pacing filly Precious Delight’s bid for a 13th straight victory. And, as she has done throughout her career, the filly came up with a big effort in the Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final to keep the streak alive.
Leaving from the middle of the field at Post 5, Precious Delight and driver Steve Condren landed in third spot on the outside through the early going. Soon after early leader Imoutahere took the field by a snappy :26 opening quarter Condren decided it was time to make a move to the front and Precious Delight responded with a burst of speed that saw her take the lead before the :55.2 half.
Paul MacDonell and Armbro Wallflower mounted a challenge through the final turn, but Precious Delight simply shifted gears and left the field in her wake, reaching the top of the stretch five lengths ahead of her peers and cruising home to the 1:51.2 victory.
“She’s the real deal. When someone challenges her, she just takes off,” said Condren after the race. “She really paced a 1/16th when I asked her to clear (to the front).
“I think if Paul (MacDonell) had kept coming at her, she’d have paced even faster. If nobody challenges her, she looks after herself.”
Imoutahere held on for second, one and a half lengths back, and Armbro Wallflower settled for the third-place finisher’s share of the $130,00 purse.
Duane Marfisi of Guelph trains Precious Delight for breeder Peter Heffering of Port Perry and the two men are hoping they can bask in the glow off an undefeated season for a second straight year. After getting a deliberately late start to her two-year-old campaign Precious Delight logged 11 straight victories. At this point in her sophmore season, after being bred to Western Hanover and undergoing an embryo transplant in early spring, she looks capable of extending the streak indefinitely.
The winner of $689,932 will go for win number 14 at Georgian Downs on July 6 in Gold Series Elimination action.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Woodbine Racetrack on Canada Day, July 1, when the two-year-old pacing fillies will make their provincial debut in Gold Series Eliminations.