INNISFIL, ON — In the last of three Gold Eliminations at Georgian Downs on Saturday evening, fan favourite Maple Sugar was on target for a track record clocking when she turned the corner for home, but the three-year-old trotting filly failed to reckon with rival Caught My Eye who swept by in the stretch to an impressive 1:56.4 victory.

With the wily Bill O’Donnell in the race bike, Caught My Eye eased out of Post 4 and settled in fourth on the rail as Tymal Timeout hit the opening quarter in :28.3. Maple Sugar took command heading to the :58 half, then picked up the pace en route to a 1:27.3 three-quarters and what the Casual Breeze division winner hoped would be her second victory of the season.

However, O’Donnell and Caught My Eye had different plans, and when the veteran reinsman sent his filly to the outside Caught My Eye exploded down the stretch to record a two length triumph and shave three-fifths of a second off the former sophomore trotting filly track record set by Pure Ivory and Sparetime Rozie in 2006.

Maple Sugar settled for the second-place finisher’s share of the $38,463 purse and All Time Favourite picked up the third-place finisher’s spoils.

Orton resident Frank O’Reilly trains Caught My Eye for his partners John Fielding of Toronto and John Ferguson of Windsor. The win was the first in four starts this season for the Angus Hall daughter, but she is no stranger to the winner’s circle. At two she crafted an ultra consistent campaign that saw her record seven wins, two seconds and one third in 13 starts for earnings of $261,420 and third-place honours in the Ontario Sires Stakes division standings.

Unfortunately, O’Donnell will have to pull a trick out of his helmet in next week’s Gold Final, as Caught My Eye will be handicapped by the outside Post 8 while Maple Sugar gets the advantageous Post 1.

Joining their speedy rivals in the $130,000 Final will be the top three finishers from the other two eliminations.

Movin Over and driver Trevor Ritchie also opted for off the pace tactics to claim a 1:59 win in the first elimination. The pair hit the wire one and one-quarter lengths ahead of Whitesand Electra and J M Aggie, while last season’s Super Final winner and fan favourite Carolyn AS made an untimely break and had to settle for fourth.

Stacy Ann Beckley trains first time Ontario Sires Stakes starter Movin Over for her partner William Beckley of Cambridge. The Royal Ballad filly now has two wins and two seconds on her resume through six starts and she will start from Post 4 in next week’s finale.

The other elimination also featured an upset as favourites Constance Hall and Tony Kerwood were unable to reel in pacesetters Brigham Dream and Robert Shepherd. Shepherd fired Brigham Dream off the gate from Post 4 and laid down fractions of :27.2, :57.4 and 1:28.1 on the way to the 1:59.4 win. Constance Hall settled for second and Windsong Darling rounded out the top three.

Nicholas Vandenplas trains Brigham Dream for owner and breeder Dream With Me Stable of Brigham, QC. The Kaisy Dream daughter made her sophomore debut at The Red Mile in Lexington, KY on May 28, trotting to a gate to wire victory in 1:58.2, and then shipped north in preparation for the start of the Ontario Sires Stakes season. Brigham Dream will start from Post 9 next Saturday, June 30.

The top three finishers from each Gold Elimination earned a return ticket to Georgian Downs for next Saturday’s $130,000 Final and the fillies will line up behind the starting gate as follows:

Post 1 Maple Sugar

Post 2 All Time Favourite

Post 3 Whitesand Electra

Post 4 Movin Over

Post 5 Constance Hall

Post 6 J M Aggie

Post 7 Windsong Darling

Post 8 Caught My Eye

Post 9 Brigham Dream

Also Eligible 1 Ita De Vie

Also Eligible 2 Carolyn AS

Also Eligible 3 Tymal Timeout

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rgeodfsa.html