WINDSOR, ON — Steve Condren had the key to the winner’s circle at Windsor Raceway on Saturday evening, capturing three of four Gold Eliminations and finishing third in the other.

The veteran reinsman kicked off his hat trick in Race 6 when he piloted fan favourite Even Now to a nose victory in 1:55.2. Leaving from Post 2 Condren settled Even Now into second through the :27.2 opening quarter and then sent the two-year-old pacing miss after the lead heading for the :57.3 half. After leading the field to a 1:26.1 three-quarters, Even Now dug in down the stretch to fend off a rapidly closing Stunning Beauty and earn her first Gold Series victory.

Draconian Promise was two more lengths back in third and fourth-place finisher Camaronni N Cheese, owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of LaSalle, Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. of Leamington and James Machan of North York, also advanced to next Saturday’s $130,000 Gold Final.

John Pentland trains Even Now for his wife Natalie Pentland of London and CJS Stables Inc. of London. The Rustler Hanover daughter boasts a record of two wins, three seconds and three thirds in 11 starts this season and Saturday’s victory moved her into sixth spot in the Gold Series division standings.

Five races later Condren captured the second two-year-old pacing filly Gold Elimination with To Helen Back, this time opting for a come from behind strategy. Starting from the outside Post 8 Condren floated the filly off the gate and landed in eighth as Valkyrie Hanover took the field to a sharp :26.3 opening quarter. While Valkyrie Hanover kept up the smart pace through fractions of :55.3 and 1:24.4, Condren and To Helen Back were slowly moving forward on the outside and by the time the fillies turned for home were sitting second.

A solid finishing kick propelled To Helen Back down the stretch to a one length victory in 1:54.1, her fifth in eight starts. Let’s Talk Turkey and Bold Bidder claimed the second and third-place cheques, while Stonebridge Prima and Valkyrie Hanover landed the last two spots in next week’s Gold Final.

Jason Libby trains To Helen Back for Mike Shunock of Toronto. The Astreos miss has captured three of four Gold Eliminations she entered this season and was a Gold Final winner at Rideau Carleton Raceway in July.

Condren completed his driving triple aboard Brad Maxwell’s Pure Ivory in the second two-year-old trotting filly Gold Elimination, cruising to a two and a half length victory in 1:58.3. The Striking Sahbra daughter stalked pacesetter Birminghim from third before pulling to the outside before the three-quarter pole and battling around the final turn to the lead. Birminghim settled for second, Oaklea Odessa was another length back in third and Prenup and Nobodys Nos But me were well back of the leaders in fourth and fifth.

Milton resident Condren shares ownership on Pure Ivory with Jerry Vanboekel of Bright, Harry Rutherford of Mount Pleasant and Christina Maxwell of Ayr. The win was Pure Ivory’s seventh in 10 starts this season and boosted her earnings to $176,288.

The other trotting filly elimination went to Windsor resident Kevin Wallis and Pacific Celebrity, who delivered a gate to wire effort in 2:00.4. Armbro Diffuse was one and three-quarter lengths back in second, while Condren and Spirit Of The Law nudged out Holyrood for third.

Trainer Ed Lohmeyer of Cream Ridge, NJ and Joan Stoddard of Boca Raton, FL bred and own Pacific Celebrity, who was making just her second start in the Gold Series.

The top four finishers in each elimination, plus one fifth-place finisher from each division, will return to Windsor Raceway next Saturday, Nov. 5 for the last Gold Final of their season. Post positions for the Gold Finals are as follows:

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY TROT GOLD FINAL

Post 1 Nobody Nos But Me

Post 2 Birminghim

Post 3 Spirit Of The Law

Post 4 Holyrood

Post 5 Pure Ivory

Post 6 Armbro Diffuse

Post 7 Oaklea Odessa

Post 8 Pacific Celebrity

Post 9 Prenup

AE1 Highnmighty

AE2 Sophie Soleil

AE3 Geisha Hall

TWO-YEAR-OLD FILLY PACE GOLD FINAL

Post 1 Bold Bidder

Post 2 Stunning Beauty

Post 3 Camaronni N Cheese

Post 4 Let’s Talk Turkey

Post 5 Even Now

Post 6 Stonebridge Prima

Post 7 Valkyrie Hanover

Post 8 Draconian Promise

Post 9 To Helen Back

AE1 Ja El Astrelegant

AE2 Dolphins Can Talk

AE3 Pacific Monterey

For complete results please go to:

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