TORONTO, ON — Elusive Desire delivered a commanding front end performance on Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack to claim the last Gold Final of the two-year-old trotting filly season and establish herself as a heavyweight contender for next weekend’s Super Final.

Driver Paul MacDonell had Elusive Desire in high gear as the starting car swept away from the field of nine, and the Angus Hall daughter had sprinted from Post 7 to the front before the :27.2 opening quarter. The fan favourites continued to lead through the :59 half, and although division point leader Cumin First mounted a charge up the outside heading by the 1:29.3 three-quarters, it was clear that the night belonged to Elusive Desire.

On top by two and a half lengths turning for home, the talented youngster stepped up the tempo and reached the wire four and a half lengths in front of her peers in a personal best 1:57.4. Cumin First earned the runner-up share of the $120,000 Gold Final purse, with Friendly Amigo closing hard to claim third-place honours.

The victory marked the second straight appearance in the Woodbine winner’s circle for Elusive Desire, who captured her Oct. 31 Gold Elimination with a come-from-behind effort. In 13 outings the half-sister to $296,180 winner Our Man Josh has amassed a record of two wins, six seconds and four thirds for earnings of $245,904. The consistent filly’s only off the board finish came in the Oct. 25 Goldsmith Maid Final where she finished six and three-quarter lengths back in eighth.

Cambridge resident Mike Keeling trains the gifted young trotter for Charles Armstrong of Brampton, Robert Fasken of Oakville and P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc. of Cambridge. The partners acquired Elusive Desire at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale for $65,000.

Armstrong also owns a share of the filly who captured Friday’s $20,000 Gold Consolation. Striking Fashion delivered a gutsy effort to earn the neck victory over fan favourite I’ll Wait For You and pick up her second victory of the season.

Starting from Post 5 with Mark MacDonald in the race bike, Striking Fashion floated away from the starting gate and was sitting third when B Cor Tanya and driver Riina Rekila reached the quarter pole in :29. As Rekila took her foot off the accelerator, MacDonald decided to send his filly to the front and Striking Fashion was on top by one-quarter length at the :59.2, but facing heavy pressure from I’ll Wait For You.

I’ll Wait For You rang up the 1:29.3 three-quarters and was on top by one length when the fillies swept around the final turn, but Striking Fashion had one more trick up her sleeve. When MacDonald shifted her into high gear, Striking Fashion responded with a smart finishing kick that propelled her down the stretch and into the winner’s circle, claiming a neck victory in 1:58.3.

I’ll Wait For You had to settle for second, while early pacesetter B Cor Tanya was four lengths behind the leaders in third.

Armstrong shares ownership on Striking Fashion with Melvin Hartman of Ottawa. The pair acquired the daughter of Striking Sahbra and $270,590 winner Fashionable Liv for $54,000 at last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale. Guelph resident Rene Laarman has conditioned the filly to a record of two wins and $33,150 in earnings through seven freshman starts.

The top 10 point earners from the Gold Series regular season will now sharpen their skills in preparation for the $300,000 Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack next Saturday, Nov. 15.

Ontario’s talented two-year-old trotting colts will wrap up their regular season at the Toronto oval tomorrow, kicking off the Saturday evening program at 7:30 pm with the $20,000 Gold Consolation and battling in Race 5 for the $120,000 Gold Final prize.

For complete entries please go to: http://www.previewsc.ca/racing/results/data/r1107wdbsn.dat.