ELMIRA, ON — Veteran Ontario Sires Stakes reinsman Dave Wall took full advantage of his inside post at Elmira Raceway on Monday afternoon, piloting Meadowview Marion to her first win in a $130,000 Gold Final.
Wall sent the two-year-old trotting filly straight to the front from Post 1 and rolled by the opening quarter in :30, on top by two and half lengths. At the 1:00.3 half Meadowview Marion had not seen any competition and when Flirting Lavec tried to mount a challenge heading for the 1:30.4 three-quarters she made a break before seriously threatening Meadowview Marion’s lead.
Heading down the stretch Trevor Henry did his best to score a hometown win with Fiesty Kindof Luv, but the gritty Meadowview Marion hung on for the 2:02.1 victory by a nose. Northern Fuchsia delivered a steady performance to land the third-place finisher’s share of the $130,000 purse, while favourite Sno Doubt About It knocked herself out of contention with an early break in stride and another miscue around the final turn.
Sent off as the fans’ third choice, Meadowview Marion returned $8.00 to all the lucky folks who made a win wager, $3.20 to place and $3.00 to show. Fourth choice Fiesty Kindof Luv, owned by the Henry Stable of Arthur, paid $4.50 to place and $3.30 to show while the fans’ sixth choice in the eight filly field, Northern Fuchsia owned by Donald Lawson of Guelph, Paul Lawson of Georgetown and James Lawson of Oakville, returned $5.40 for her third-place effort. The exactor was worth $43.40 and the triactor paid $273.00.
Stayner resident Paul Shakes trains Meadowview Marion for his long time partner, and the filly’s breeder, Charles Reid of Meadowview Farms Inc. in Orono. The Incredible Abe daughter made her debut in the Gold Series at Rideau Carleton Raceway on July 13 where she finished third, but failed to draw into the Final. In last week’s elimination round Meadowview Marion earned her way into Monday afternoon’s Final with a runner-up performance behind Lemehavit. She and her peers will make their third Gold Series start on Aug. 20 at Flamboro Downs.
The freshman filly Gold Final was the warm-up for the featured race of Elmira’s Industry Day program, the Battle of Waterloo. Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final winner Groovie Day captured the $200,000 battle with an impressive five length victory in 1:56.2. Our Lucky Killean and Fantasy Island rounded out the top three.
Monday’s Ontario Sires Stakes event and Battle of Waterloo were the final stakes events for Elmira Raceway, which will be reinvented next spring as the Grand River Raceway in Elora. Live racing at Elmira Raceway is slated to wrap up on Sept. 1 and the simulcasting facility and slots parlour will open at the Elora site in mid-November.