GLOUCESTER, ON — Rideau Carleton Raceway fans can look forward to an exciting showdown when Sunday’s Gold Elimination winners return to the Gloucester oval for their $130,000 Gold Final next weekend.
Please Me Please served notice that she will be a serious contender in the last half of the season with a 1:54.1 victory over a racetrack rated one second slower than normal. The Camluck miss and driver Mike Saftic took command of the race heading for the halfway marker and never saw another challenge as they cruised home to a two length victory over reigning Gold Final champion Jasper Avenue and Northern Harmony. Maple Lady paced into fourth spot, while local favourite Rocket N Rollit settled for fifth.
The win was the second straight for Please Me Please, who has been slow to kick into gear this season after earning $223,896 as a two-year-old. Trainer Robert McIntosh of La Salle, Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington and Dwight Stacey of Mitchell bred and own the talented filly, who improved her 2003 record to three wins and two seconds in 12 starts.
The win also moved Please Me Please into fourth spot in the division standings and a strong showing in next week’s Gold Final could lock up a berth in the season ending $300,000 Super Final for the talented pacer.
While Please Me Please flexed her Gold Series muscles for the first time, Burning Point captured her third straight elimination in a season that has been nothing short of spectacular. The Camluck daughter has posted 17 wins, two seconds and one third in 21 starts, including one Gold Final, a Flamboro Breeders division and several victories against the top older mares in Ontario.
Sunday’s triumph was a wire-to-wire romp in 1:55 that saw Audreys Fame, Ascending and Ivory Key six lengths behind Burning Point and driver Kevin Wallis. Wallis drives Burning Point for trainer Linda Wallis and owners the Cuzzins Stables of Boca Raton, FL.
The top four finishers from each elimination will return to Rideau Carleton Raceway next Sunday, Oct. 5 for their second last $130,000 Gold Final and they will be joined by one of the fifth-place finishers, Rocket N Rollit or A And Gs Dream, who will be selected by random draw to complete the field of nine.