GLOUCESTER, ON — Rideau Carleton Raceway fans were witness to a masterful piece of driving Thursday night as trotting specialist Trevor Ritchie teamed Birminghim to a record setting Gold Final victory.

As he did in her first three starts, driver Mike Saftic sent fan favourite Lisa’s Mission to the front as soon as the starting gate pulled away from the field of two-year-old trotting fillies. Lined up at Post 6, Ritchie and Birminghim were right beside the favourites and floated out in their wake, landing second on the rail as Lisa’s Mission hit the opening quarter in :29.1.

Through perfectly rated fractions of 1:00 and 1:30, Ritchie was content to sit in second and allow the reigning Gold Final champion to do all the work, but when the fillies turned for home the veteran reinsman kicked Birminghim into high gear and the fight began. Sprinting away from the field, Lisa’s Mission and Birminghim waged a battle that had Rideau Carleton fans on their feet with Birminghim hitting the wire just a half length ahead of her rival in a track record 1:59.4.

The mile shaved one-fifth of a second off the 2:00 mark set by Ontario Sires Stakes competitor Exclusive Lavec in 1998.

Oaklea Odessa earned the third-place share of the Ontario Sires Stakes purse, finishing six and a half lengths behind the leaders and her stablemate Oaklea Omega was four more lengths back in fourth. The final cheque was cut to Spirit Of The Law, who finished 13 and a half lengths to the rear in fifth. Elimination winners Patsy’s Point and Sears Tower both made early miscues that left them out of contention.

Ritchie drives Birminghim for trainer Harald Lunde of Campbellville and owner-breeders Steve Stewart of Paris, KY and the estate of Joseph Taylor of Nicholasville, KY. A third generation product of the Stewart-Taylor breeding program, the Striking Sahbra daughter made her Ontario Sires Stakes debut in the Grassroots at Kawartha Downs on July 12. In spite of making an early break, Birminghim steadily regained ground and took home a third-place cheque.

A July 19 qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack saw the filly deliver a steady mile in 2:03.1 and convinced her connections that a trip to Ottawa for the Gold Series was in order. In last week’s elimination she finished a fast closing second to Patsy’s Point and earned the respect of Rideau Carleton fans who sent her off as their third choice on Thursday evening.

For a two dollar wager Birminghim returned $14.00 to win, $5.20 to place and $6.00 to show. Fan favourite Lisa’s Mission delivered $2.90 to place and $2.60 to show, while Oaklea Odessa, the second longest shot on the board thanks to her record of making breaks, delivered a flawless performance and paid $13.80 to show. The exactor was worth $59.30 and correctly selecting the top three fillies earned fans a tidy $636.40 on their triactor wager.

The two-year-old trotting fillies will make their third Gold Series start Aug. 23 at Mohawk Racetrack. Their freshman trotting colt peers will be the next group of Ontario Sires Stakes stars taking aim on one of Rideau Carleton Raceway’s track records, Sunday, Aug. 21 in Gold Elimination action.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rridcfth.html#N8