INNISFIL, ON — A trio of Gold Series superstars headline the Trillium Series event for three-year-old trotting fillies at Georgian Downs on Tuesday, July 11.

Reigning Gold Final champion Pure Ivory, early season Gold Final winner Oaklea Odessa and Gold Elimination winner Oaklea Omega will draw crowds to the Innisfil oval as they put their talent on display in Races 1, 4, and 6.

“We’re looking at the big picture here, the Canadian Breeders is coming up in a couple weeks,” admits John Bax, who trains Oaklea Odessa and Oaklea Omega. “They’ve been off for a while; this will get them ready.”

Pure Ivory and Oaklea Omega head into Tuesday’s event from the June 30 Gold Final at Western Fair Raceway in London, where Pure Ivory clocked a 1:57.2 track record and Oaklea Omega finished fourth. Oaklea Odessa earned herself an extra week of vacation time when she made a break in the June 23 elimination and missed a top two finish for only the second time this season.

“She got used pretty tough the last time so we gave her some time off and she seems to have bounced back,” says Bax about the daughter of Balanced Image and Sara Eve that he owns in partnership with Ariel Stables of North York and Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry.

From her sophomore debut on April 20 through the June 2 Casual Breeze Stakes, Oaklea Odessa racked up a five race win streak, which came to an end with a runner-up finish in the June 9 Elegantimage Eliminations. One week later the filly endured a rocky ride in the Elegantimage Final, battling on the front end through fractions of :26.4, :55.4 and 1:25.1 before packing it in and fading to seventh. In the London Gold Elimination she made an early break, battled back to fourth by the three-quarter pole and then made another misstep that took her to the back of the field.

“The turns were just a little tight for her in London,” notes Bax. “They’re both big strong mares, so we’re hoping there’s no lasting effects from the tough trips.”

In the June 30 track record mile at Western Fair, Oaklea Omega endured a trip similar to the one her stablemate had in the Elegantimage Final. Oaklea Omega and driver Dave Wall did all the work on the front end, powering through fractions of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:26.4, before being collared in the stretch.

“She got roughed up pretty bad in London,” says Bax. “She actually maybe raced the best race of her life.”

Through nine starts Oaklea Omega boasts three wins and three seconds and has only missed a cheque on one occasion. Another daughter of Balanced Image, out of Chippies Victory, Oaklea Omega is owned by Bax’s Parkhill Stud Farm, Glenn Van Camp, Brilo Farms of Sharon and Venture K Stable of Little Britain.

In addition to his Gold Series stars, Bax will also send out current Grassroots division leader Gramola Grande in Tuesday’s Trillium contest.

“She’s a good Grassrooter. She’s a lot steadier this year, but she still plays at a level below the other ones,” says the Peterborough resident, who shares ownership on the daughter of Mr Lavec and $404,208 winner Gramola with Ariel Stables and breeder Glengate Farms of Campbellville. “She’s third best in the barn.”

Third stringer Gramola Grande will be first out of the Georgian Downs paddock on Tuesday, competing against Pure Ivory in Race 1. Gramola Grande and Thornton resident Stephen Byron will be hampered by the trailing Post 9, while Pure Ivory starts from Post 3 in the first $22,327 Trillium division.

Oaklea Odessa will try and reboot her win streak from Post 4 in Race 4 and Oaklea Omega gets Post 3 in the sixth race. “Mr. OSS” Dave Wall will drive both Oaklea fillies.

Post time for Georgian Downs’ Tuesday evening program is 7:35 pm.

For complete entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/egeodftu.html