INNISFIL, ON — It was all about Girl Power at Georgian Downs on Saturday night as Ontario’s talented three-year-old trotters and pacers congregated at the Innisfil oval for 10 Gold Series Eliminations.
Pacing filly Tiz To Dream kicked off an evening of dominant performances by the distaff side, rocketing to a four length score in the first $40,000 elimination in a track record 1:51.2.
Starting from the advantageous Post 1, Tiz To Dream and driver Doug McNair rang up fractions of :26.4, :55.1 and 1:23.1 en route to the record setting victory over Perfume N Pearls and Theta Blue Chip. The mile shaved three-fifths of a second off the former track record of 1:52, held jointly by former OSS competitors Im Just Special and Michelles Power.
Trainer Gregg McNair and Paul Kidd, both of Guelph, ON, share ownership on Tiz To Dream, who boasts a record of three wins and one second in six sophomore starts. Among the Grinfromeartoear daughter’s victories was the June 26 Fan Hanover Consolation, where she posted a personal best 1:50.2.
The other pacing filly elimination went to Windsong Grand Ave and driver Mark MacDonald, who matched the former track record with their 1:52 effort. The fan favourites bested Misty Moonstone and Warm Waffles. Shawn Robinson trains the Camluck miss for breeder William Loyens of London, ON and Harry Loyens of Ilderton, ON.
Fans got their second taste of record setting speed when the trotting fillies stepped onto the Georgian oval for their first elimination. Ipromisenottotell and driver Phil Hudon caught fan favourites Lyle MacArthur and Emmylou Who at the wire in a track record 1:55.4, one-fifth of a second faster than the 1:56 mile posted by Somebody To Love in 2008. Kenu Dance was well back of the battling leaders in third.
Last year’s Grassroots Champion, Ipromisenottotell has made a successful transition to the big leagues this season for trainer Joe Hudon and owners R A W Equine of Burlington, ON. Saturday’s victory was just the Angus Hall daughter’s second in six starts, but she also posted two seconds and one third competing against North America’s best through the month of June.
Unfortunately, Ipromisenottotell’s moment in the history books was brief, as rival Cross Of Lorraine came out in the very next race and sprinted around the five-eighths oval to a new track and Ontario Sires Stakes record 1:55.2, replacing the great Peaceful Way (1:55.3) in the provincial annals.
Cross Of Lorraine and driver Paul Mackenzie took command of the race from Post 2 and never had occasion to glance back as they cruised along on the front end through fractions of :28, :58.2 and 1:27.1 before sailing under the wire three and one-quarter lengths to the good. Favourite and reigning Gold Final champion Random Destiny had to settle for second, with Closeness rounding out the top three.
Princeton, ON resident Carl Jamieson trains Cross Of Lorraine, and shares ownership of the Angus Hall filly with Thomas Kyron of Toronto, ON and Hope Johnson of London, ON. Through six starts the full sister to former OSS competitor Australian Stock ($350,714) has accumulated four wins.
Aside from the impressive performances logged by the fillies, a pair of local trotting colts delivered the goods in front of their hometown fans.
In spite of starting from the outside Post 8, trotting colt Windsun Galaxie was an easy 1:55.1 winner for Harley Harkness’s Windsun Farm of Uxbridge, ON. In rein to Paul MacDonell, the Kadabra son took command of the race just past the opening quarter, fought off a challenge at the three-quarters and then cruised home a two and one-half length winner over Dontgetinhisway and Thro Time.
Bred and owned by Windsun Farm Inc., the talented Windsun Galaxie has accumulated a record of four wins, two seconds and one third in nine starts this season under the tutelage of trainer Chad Milner.
Two races earlier Windsong Geant finished a strong second to heavy favourite Text Me for owners Fred Brayford of Alliston, ON and The Brabant Stable of London, ON.
Kadabra son Text Me and driver Randy Waples trotted across the finish one length on top in 1:54.4 to pick up their fourth win of the season for trainer Bob McIntosh of Windsor, ON, Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, ON and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, OH. Poof K rounded out the top three.
The third trotting colt Gold Elimination went to Arriba Amigo, whose 1:54.1 effort was the fastest mile of the three winners. Trotting specialist Trevor Ritchie took over the lines from trainer Blair Burgess for the Amigo Hall son’s fourth sophomore start and teamed the gelding to a two and three-quarter length victory over Hidden Message and Celebrity Ferrari. Burgess conditions the two-time winner for his father Bob Burgess of Campbellville, ON, wife Karin Olsson Burgess of Milton, ON, Mac Nichol of Burlington, ON and Champagne Stable of Toronto, ON.
On the pacing colt front, Big Bay Point and Robert Shepherd posted the swiftest mile with their 1:52 effort in the first elimination. The win, over Code Word and Twin B Warrior, was the Camluck son’s third straight, and third of the season on the Georgian Downs oval. David Menary trains Big Bay Point for Burke Racing Stable LLC of Fredericktown PA and Weaver Bruscemi LLC of Canonsburg, PA.
Fan favourite BP Chimo eked out a neck victory over Broadies Song to capture the second pacing colt elimination. The Grinfromeartoear son and driver Mark MacDonald halted the teletimer at 1:52.1, for the colt’s first win in five sophomore outings. Branchton, ON resident James Barton trains B P Chimo for his partners Elizabeth Thompson of Branchton, ON and Anne and Barry O’Keefe of Ferryland, NL. Cajon Thunder completed the triactor.
The final elimination was awarded to Stonebridge Tonic when Future Million was ruled to have caused interference to Mach Dreamer and placed from first back to seventh. Only half a length back, Stonebridge Tonic and driver Doug McNair picked up the 1:52.2 victory, with Wellthereyougo and Red Bugler moving into second and third.
Guelph, ON resident Gregg McNair trains Stonebridge Tonic for his partners Artana Stables of St. Thomas, ON, Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, ON and breeder Angie Stiller of Arva, ON. The Camluck son is now two for seven this season.
The top nine finishers in each division will return to Georgian Downs next Saturday, July 10 for their respective $130,000 Gold Finals, part of the track’s popular Gold Rush night.
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0703geodfn.dat.