INNISFIL, ON — The way things are going for three-year-old pacing filly Precious Delight, her owner Peter Heffering may never have an opportunity to see her race live. Heffering missed the filly’s first few races last season and as the wins started to pile up the Port Perry resident was overtaken by a nudge of superstition and decided he would not go to the racetrack until she recorded a loss.
The Precious Bunny daughter went to the post for the fourteenth time on Saturday night at Georgian Downs, Heffering stayed home, and she delivered a fourteenth effortless victory.
Made the overwhelming favourite in the second of two Gold Series Eliminations, Precious Delight and driver Steve Condren did not give fans an ounce of doubt, taking control heading toward the half and sailing home unscathed in 1:53.3. Nicki Newton finished six lengths back in second and Angel In Disguise was ten lengths to the rear in third.
“I haven’t been to one yet,” said Heffering. “Until she gets beat I’ll stay away, and I expect one of these days she will.”
After next Saturday’s Gold Final the gifted pacer will likely have her first opportunity to strut her stuff south of the border when she heads to the Meadowlands for the $350,000 Mistletoe Shalee stake.
“We’ll take it one race at a time, but if she’s at the top of her game she ought to be competitive,” said Heffering. “We’ll see what happens in the next race.”
Fourth-placed finisher Pastrami Hanover also qualified for the $130,000 Gold Final and fifth-place Signature Seelster could sneak in by luck of the draw. One of the fifth-place fillies will occupy the ninth spot on the starting gate next Saturday.
The other division went to another daughter of Precious Bunny, Catch This Bunny, who circled the field with a sizzling :27.4 last quarter to score the 1:55.3 victory. Leaving from the outside Post 8 savvy driver Trevor Ritchie settled Catch This Bunny in last place as Imoutahere took the field through fractions of :28.2, :57 and 1:26.4.
With just five lengths separating the first and last fillies around the final turn it was a cavalry charge for the wire and Catch This Bunny unleashed the fastest final quarter of the night to score her first Gold Series victory.
Favourite Lady Graceful was a head back in second and Oven Mitt was just three-quarters of a length off the leader in third. Born Lucky finished fourth to earn a place on the starting gate in the Final and Go Alberta Go moved into fifth when Imoutahere interfered with her down the stretch and was placed from fifth to eighth.
John Pentland trains Catch This Bunny for the Catch This Bunny Group of London. The win was the filly’s second of the season and took two seconds off her personal best.
Precious Delight will go for win number 15 in next Saturday’s Gold Final at Georgian Downs while the eight other qualifiers attempt to bring it to a halt.