WINDSOR, ON — Windsor Raceway fans were confident, track officials were cautious and three-year-old pacing filly Invitro delivered on all their expectations as she cruised to her tenth win of the season on Sunday evening.
Fans sent the Camluck filly off as the prohibitive favourite and officials decided to remove show wagering from the $115,693 Gold Elimination, all because of the way Invitro has dominated her division this season. The talented pacer has not been bested by her Ontario-sired peers since a Gold Elimination at Woodbine Racetrack on June 14, and Sunday’s contest was yet another demonstration of her skill.
Leaving from Post 4, regular driver Paul MacDonell opted to float off the gate and was sitting three and a half lengths back in third when Serious Comfort took the fillies to a brisk :25.4 opening quarter. En route to the half MacDonell sent Invitro up the outside and the filly reached the front just before the :55.3 fraction flashed up on the Windsor teletimer. The pair picked up the pace to the 1:24 three-quarters and then sailed home to a one length victory in 1:53.4.
On This Day, owned by trainer Robert McIntosh of La Salle, John Fielding of Toronto and CSX Stables of Liberty Center, OH, made an impressive move at the three-quarters to finish second and Taylor Lynne was three and one-quarter lengths back in third. The remainder of the field were stretched out more than eight lengths behind the leader, but all eight fillies will qualify for next week’s $130,000 Gold Final.
Cobourg resident Gord Irwin trains Invitro for his partner Murray Ross of Norwood and the two long time owners are savouring every moment of the exhilarating ride Invitro has taken them on since her conception. The pair bred the filly, who was conceived by in vitro fertilization and carried by a surrogate mare while her mother Keystone Trinidad continued to race. Last season Invitro posted a record of four wins, three seconds and one third in 10 starts for earnings of $254,458, and she has been even more successful as a sophomore, capturing 10 wins, two seconds and one third in 15 starts for earnings of $563,985.
Invitro’s only off the board finishes this season came in her second start of the year, when she finished fifth in an overnight event at Mohawk Racetrack from Post 9, and in the $705,900 Fan Hanover Final at Woodbine Racetrack where, in against the top fillies in North America, she finished fourth from the outside Post 10.
The gifted youngster will attempt to capture her fourth Gold Final victory next Sunday, Oct. 10 at the Windsor oval, and all seven of her competitors from this weekend’s battle will be trying once again to halt her impressive win streak.