REXDALE, ON — Ontario’s top three-year-old pacing fillies proved they have mastered the art of racing in the mud after heavy rain dampened a trio of Gold Series divisions at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday evening.

Having raced over off tracks in all four of their provincial starts this season, the fillies once again rose to the occasion and delivered impressive performances on a sloppy surface rated two seconds slower than normal.

Kicking off the soggy parade of victors was Ashley And Gloria, who received a masterful come-from-behind steer from veteran reinsman Roger Mayotte to post the 1:55.1 win over Pacific Supreme and Northern Diligence.

Guelph resident Bob Young trains Ashley And Gloria for Malcolm MacPhail and Robert MacPhail of Dover Centre, Diana Broham of Kitchener and Richard Renwick of Merlin. The win was the Fit For Life daughter’s third of the season and marked her debut at the Gold Series level.

In the second $40,000-plus division, favourite Serenity Seelster eased off the gate from Post 1 and then powered to the front heading past the half. Through the stretch the Camluck miss responded to urging from regular reinsman Tony Kerwood, fighting off challenger Iseerightthrough U to record the 1:56.1 victory by a nose. Perched rounded out the top three, finishing one and a quarter lengths behind the leaders.

Trainer John MacMillan of Spencerville, Glenn Bechtel of Kingston and Garth Bechtel of Caledon Village share ownership on the consistent Serenity Seelster, who has earned a cheque in all four of her provincial stakes starts to date.

The last Gold Series Elimination went to Tattootina and driver Chris Christoforou, who also opted to control the fractions en route to their 1:55.2 triumph over reigning Gold Final winner, and fan favourite, Lady D M and Fannies Fortune. Ingrid Bergrin finished fourth and earned her way into next Monday’s $130,000 Gold Final by luck of the draw.

Trained by Joe Stutzman for Robert Key of Leechburg, PA, Tattootina made her 2005 Ontario Sires Stakes debut at the Grassroots level, where she struggled over Western Fair Raceway’s half-mile oval. With seven wins through 18 starts this season the Island Fantasy daughter is no stranger to the winner’s circle and will be a major factor from Post 2 in the Gold Final with the other two elimination winners, Ashley And Gloria and Serenity Seelster, saddled with Posts 8 and 9.

Complete entries for next Monday’s $130,000 showdown, which heralds the start of Mohawk Racetrack’s summer meet, are as follows:

Post 1 Iseerightthrough U

Post 2 Tattootina

Post 3 Fannies Fortune

Post 4 Perched

Post 5 Pacific Supreme

Post 6 Ingrid Bergrin

Post 7 Lady D M

Post 8 Ashley And Gloria

Post 9 Serenity Seelster

Post 10 Northern Diligence

AE1 Rambition

AE2 Smiling Beauty

AE3 Helena Handbag

For a complete list of Monday night’s results go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwdbsmo.html