REXDALE, ON — Armbro Wallflower leapt up the three-year-old pacing filly division standings with a victory in the $130,000 Gold Final at Woodbine Racetrack on Friday evening.
The Village Jasper daughter and driver Paul MacDonell scored the 1:51.3 victory using a radically different strategy than they did for last week’s elimination win. Rather than laying off the pace until the final strides, on Friday MacDonell fired Armbro Wallflower off the gate from Post 7 and wrestled control from Imoutahere before the :27 quarter.
When Chris Christoforou and favourite Lady Graceful started to apply pressure on the outside MacDonell opted to let them set the pace through the :56.2 half and 1:24.1 three-quarters, content to wait for the long Woodbine stretch to unleash Armbro Wallflower’s final attack. As the fillies straightened out and MacDonell he hit the accelerator, Armbro Wallflower delivered an impressive burst of speed that carried them to the one and a half length victory.
“It looked to me like it was going to be a front end race so I was pretty well forced on leave with her. She can race either way without a problem,” explained MacDonell after the race. “Lady Graceful took off for a piece, she opened up a length or two on me around the last turn, and I didn’t know how strong she’d be, but when I asked my filly she just responded big time.”
Lady Graceful picked up the second-place finisher’s share of the $130,000 purse and Nicki Newton, owned by Don Culham of Cambridge and John Clark of Toronto, overcame a trip up the outside to finish third, four lengths behind the leaders.
Trainer Mark Steacy of Lansdowne, Stan Klemencic of Trenton and David Reid of Kingston own Armbro Wallflower, who improved her record to five wins, one second and one third in 11 starts with her first Gold Final win. A $20,000 purchase as a yearling, Armbro Wallflower has earned $271,844 for the partners in two racing seasons.
The win also moved Armbro Wallflower into third spot in the Super Final point standings with a total of 128 points. Lady Graceful moved into sole possession of first place with her runner-up finish, 25 points ahead of Precious Delight’s perfect 200. After the final Gold Series event on their schedule the top 10 point earners will secure a berth in the $300,000 Super Final on Nov. 16 at Mohawk Racetrack.
The three-year-old pacing fillies compete in their final Gold Series event on Sept. 28 and Oct. 5 at Flamboro Downs.
Woodbine Racetrack fans get a second dose of outstanding Ontario Sires Stakes action this weekend when the record setting three-year-old pacing colts strut their stuff in their third $130,000 Gold Final on Saturday night.