INNISFIL, ON — Georgian Downs fans will be treated to two $59,909 Gold Series Eliminations for the hyper-competitive three-year-old pacing fillies on Saturday evening.
Joining two-time Gold Final winner Lady D M are all of the Gold Series regulars, plus a trio of newcomers, including Edward James’ Babyremembermyname.
“I sent her down to North Carolina for the winter and in the spring I was advised that she had a problem with her neck, it was all swollen up. That’s why we missed the earlier events,” explains James. “We could’ve rushed her, but she was a pretty nice filly last year, so we wanted to take our time bringing her back.”
As a two-year-old Babyremembermyname captured two Gold Eliminations and a Flamboro Breeders division, finished second twice and third three times in 14 starts and banked $144,017. The Apaches Fame daughter heads into Saturday night’s contest off a pair of qualifying victories over Flamboro Downs, the first in 1:59.1 and the most recent (June 22) a 16 length romp in 1:56.2.
“She qualified good according to Paul (Mackenzie),” says James. “So she should be okay for Saturday night, although how good they are you never know until the gate springs.”
Paul Mackenzie trains and drives the filly for Aurora resident James and has been impressed with her manners, work ethic and speed.
“Certainly I think she’s better mannered than she was last year. Paul has been impressed with her,” notes James. “We’ll find out Saturday night how much she has learned.”
Mackenzie and Babyremembermyname will tackle the Gold Series fillies from Post 3 in the second elimination and James will be keeping a close eye on several of her competitors.
“All the top fillies from last year are having a little trouble getting back this year, but they’ll break out one of these days,” he says. “We are just looking for a decent year for her.”
Among the Gold Series regulars that Babyremembermyname will face on Saturday are Gold Elimination winners Trace Of Luck, Tattootina and Serenity Seelster from Posts 2, 6 and 8 respectively, and the division’s current queen, two-time Gold Final champion Lady D M, who will start from the trailing Post 10.
The other elimination features a bevy of last year’s stars hoping to regain some of their freshman lustre. Lucks Mistress returns to the game after a six-week hiatus and starts from Post 1, freshman division leader Lady Dillinger will try to bounce back from a trio of disappointing finishes from Post 4 and Claires Apache returns from a six week break at Post 7.
Post time for the first race on Georgian Downs’ Saturday evening program is 7:35 pm and the talented three-year-old pacing fillies will step into the spotlight in Races 7 and 9. The top four finishers, plus one fifth-place finisher, will earn a return ticket to the Innisfil oval for the Saturday, July 9 Gold Final, worth $130,000.
For a complete list of entries please go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/egeodfsa.html