GLOUCESTER, ON — To Helen Back and driver Mark MacDonald provided clear proof of the virtues of patience in the $130,000 Gold Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening.

As the starting gate pulled away from the field of two-year-old pacing fillies MacDonald and To Helen Back fired out from Post 4 and landed in second on the rail, tucked in behind fan favourite Stonebridge Prima. As Stonebridge Prima led the fillies through fractions of :27.1, :58 and 1:26.1, Vintage Wine pressed the pace relentlessly from the outside while MacDonald continued to sit on the rail.

By the top of the stretch Stonebridge Prima had given up the game to Vintage Wine and To Helen Back had been shuffled back to fourth, but as the fillies thundered down the Rideau Carleton stretch MacDonald’s ground saving strategy paid off in spades as To Helen Back cruised to a one and a half length victory in 1:57.4. Vintage Wine stayed game for second, edging her stablemate Irish Eyes into third; both fillies are trained by Robert Atkin for breeders Millar Farms of Newmarket.

MacDonald drives To Helen Back for trainer Jason Libby and owner Mike Shunock of Toronto, who offered up $27,000 for the daughter of Astreos and Rocket Science at last fall’s Canadian Classic Yearling Sale. Her elder sister, by sire Northern Luck, is Ontario Sires Stakes regular and $83,101 winner Helena Handbag.

To Helen Back qualified for Sunday’s Gold Final with a narrow loss to Vintage Wine in last week’s elimination round. The elimination was the filly’s Ontario Sires Stakes debut, but not her first appearance on the race track. She captured a two-year-old contest at Mohawk Racetrack on July 5 with a smart front end effort in 1:57.

Rideau Carleton Raceway fans were sufficiently impressed with To Helen Back’s elimination performance that they sent her off as their second choice in the Gold Final. Her winning effort delivered a $5.90 pay out on a win wager, a $3.50 return on a place bet and a $2.90 dividend on each show ticket. Third choice Vintage Wine paid $4.90 to place and $4.30 to show, while long shot Irish Eyes returned $4.70 to show. The exactor was worth $24.40, the triactor paid $270.80 and those clever enough to combine the top three fillies with fourth-place finisher Draconian Promise earned $428.00 on their superfecta play.

To Helen Back and MacDonald will have an opportunity to defend their Gold Final title on Aug. 1 at Mohawk Racetrack. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway this Thursday, July 28 with Gold Eliminations for the two-year-old trotting fillies.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rridcfsu.html#N5