GLOUCESTER, ON — Rideau Carleton Raceway fans got a glimpse of what is in store for them next week when the brilliant three-year-old trotting fillies tested their skills over the five-eighths mile oval on Thursday.
The track record fell not once, but two times as both Gold Eliminations surpassed the former 1:56.3 mark set by 1997 Ontario Sires Stakes superstar Elegantimage.
Miss Michelle H opened the speedfest with a wire-to-wire 1:56.1 score in the third race. Competing for Joann Thomson of Chesapeake City, MA, Joe Thomson of Phoenixville, PA and Carl and Rod Allen Stable Inc. of Ocala, FL, the King Conch daughter rolled through fractions of :28.3, :57.3 and 1:26.2 on her way to the three-quarter length victory over a hard charging Silhouette Dream.
Local filly Ifhallscouldtalk, owned by Melvin Hartman of Ottawa rounded out the top three in the $49,681 event and Fiesty Kindof Luv nailed down a spot in next week’s final with her fourth-place effort.
The win was Miss Michelle H’s third in Gold Elimination action and her sixth in 11 starts this season. Trained and driven by Rod Allen, the talented trotter currently sits second in the division point race with her berth in the Nov. 13 Super Final wrapped up with three races remaining on the regular season schedule.
A consistent player on the Sires Stakes scene as a two-year-old, Miss Michelle H has added $219,435 to her bank tally this season for a grand total of $344,255.
Three races later last season’s superstar Peaceful Way peeled one-fifth of a second off Miss Michelle H’s time to equal the Ontario Sires Stakes speed record for three-year-old trotting fillies over a five-eighths mile track.
In rein to Chris Christoforou, Peaceful Way eased off the gate into third through the early going, content to watch Trophy Hall clock the :28.1 opening fraction. Heading for the :58.3 half Christoforou sent the Angus Hall daughter after the leaders and was one and a half lengths on top by the 1:26.4 three-quarters. Through the stretch Peaceful Way and Christoforou extended their lead to three and one-quarter lengths and hit the wire in 1:56.
Trophy Hall stayed game for second, Incredible Iam trotted into third and reigning Gold Final champion McCall Magic landed in fourth.
Guelph resident Dave Tingley trains Peaceful Way for his partners Goin My Way Stable of Holland, PA and Angie Stiller of Arva. The win was the filly’s fourth in six starts and boosted her already significant earnings to $1,220,112 lifetime.
The top four finishers from each elimination will return to Rideau Carleton Raceway next Thursday, Sept. 2 for the second last $130,000 Gold Final of their careers. Joining them will be one of the fifth-place finishers, Stacelita or Shez Mine, selected by random draw.