DRESDEN, ON — Dresden Raceway’s three-year-old pacing filly track record did not make it past the first of three Trillium Series divisions on Sunday afternoon.
Fans knew that a track record was on the horizon when the sophomore fillies fired off the gate in third race and the infield timer flashed :27.4 as Easy Eva led the field past the opening quarter. Favourites Armbro Wand and Jim Ainsworth took control of the race heading around the second turn, reaching the half in :57.2, and then put some distance between themselves and the rest of the six-horse field en route to the 1:25.2 three-quarters.
At the top of the stretch Armbro Wand was on top by two lengths and the Armbro Operative daughter cruised home to an easy two and one half length victory in a track record 1:55.2, taking more than a second off the former 1:56.4 mark set by El Nina in 2001.
Ainsworth drives and trains Armbro Wand for his father Larry Ainsworth of Petrolia, Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga and Reg Gassien of Lindsay. The win pushed the filly’s record to seven wins and four seconds in 19 starts this season and bumped her lifetime earnings to $47,789.
Millenium Ball picked up the second-place finisher’s share of the $22,559 purse and Swan Song was five and three-quarter lengths back in third.
Ainsworth was back in the Dresden winner’s circle after the third Trillium division with Maddy Girl, who paced around the half-mile oval to a commanding five and a three-quarter length 1:56.1 victory over Village Baroque. Local favourite Country Chill picked up her first Ontario Sires Stakes cheque with a third-place finish. Country Chill is owned by trainer Donald Strain of Dresden and Carman Rose of Wallaceburg.
Maddy Girl’s victory was her third of the season and comes after a solid showing in her first Gold Series outing of the year. Sarnia resident Ainsworth shares ownership on the Run The Table daughter with his wife Shelley and Martwest Racing Stable.
Dresden fans were three-for-three in their handicapping selections in the Trillium as favourite Duel delivered a come-from-behind victory in the second division. The Western Hanover daughter and driver Don McElroy sat fifth throughout the mile as Unchained Speed and Mavericks Sister battled for control on the front end. McElroy moved Duel into position around the final turn and the filly paced home to a three-quarter length victory in 1:58.2. Unchained Speed held on for second against Northern Mistress who survived a trip around the outside of the half-mile oval to nab third-place honours.
Bob McIntosh trains Duel for Armstrong Bros. of Inglewood. The filly has spent her season competing against her American-bred peers south of the border, earnings four wins, four seconds, three thirds and $79,252 in 16 starts.
The three-year-old pacing fillies have one event remaining on their Trillium Series schedule, on Nov. 9 at Hiawatha Horse Park. The Ontario-bred fillies will make their next Grassroots start on Sept. 2 at Kawartha Downs, but will have to wait until Sept. 28 at Flamboro Downs for their final Gold Series event.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Dresden Raceway on Labour Day Monday, Sept. 2 with Grassroots divisions for the outstanding two-year-old pacing colts.