CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Cool Creek Breeze made her Gold Series debut a winning one with a narrow victory in the first of four $40,000 Gold Eliminations for the two-year-old trotting fillies at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening.
In rein to Mario Baillargeon, Cool Creek Breeze sat mid-pack through the early stages of the race, watching Kylie Hall ring up fractions of :14, :29.2 and 1:01. Heading by the half Baillargeon tipped the Angus Hall miss to the outside, and Cool Creek Breeze trotted up to take command before the 1:30.1 three-quarters.
Kylie Hall fought hard to regain control through the stretch, but Cool Creek Breeze stayed game to the wire, eking out a neck victory in 1:59. Kylie Hall sprinted into second and Zorgwijk Mercedes also closed hard to claim third-place honours.
The mile stripped five full seconds off Cool Creek Breeze’s former personal best, recorded when she captured a Grassroots division at Flamboro Downs on July 10. The half-sister to $1.3 million winner Casual Breeze now has two wins and one second to her credit through three starts for trainer Ben Baillargeon of Rockwood and his partner, breeder Diane Ingham of Mount Pleasant.
Milton resident Mario Baillargeon will steer Cool Creek Breeze from Post 7 in next Monday’s $130,000 Gold Final.
The second Gold Elimination saw Destinys Magic elevated to the victor’s podium when fan favourite Witch Way made a late break and caused interference to a number of fillies in her wake. Only three-quarters of a length behind Witch Way at the wire, Destinys Magic halted the teletimer in a personal best 1:59.1.
Phoenix Goal was bumped from third up to second, The Magic Of Paris moved from fourth to third and Justasmalltowngirl jumped from fifth to fourth, leaving Witch Way to settle for fifth.
Daniel Lagace of Cambridge conditions Destinys Magic for his wife Michelle Gagne and partner Jack Darling Stables Ltd., also of Cambridge. Through five starts the Kadabra lass now has two Gold Elimination trophies in her possession, along with one second and one third-place finish.
Regular reinsman Paul MacDonell of Guelph engineered Monday evening’s victory and will be back in the race bike for next Monday’s Gold Final, sending Destinys Magic after a share of $130,000 from Post 4.
Fan favourite Princess Fortune sprinted home to a 1:57.2 victory in the third Gold Elimination, besting Dancehall Mistress and pacesetter Tyrany Seelster by three-quarters of a length.
Anthony MacDonald piloted the Macs Crown K daughter to her first lifetime victory for trainer Paul Reid and owner-breeder Robert Key of Leechburg, PA. Seventh in both of her earlier Gold Elimination appearances, Princess Fortune has since polished her skills in the In Free Series at Mohawk where she was a narrowly beaten second in the Aug. 1 final. MacDonald will steer the filly from Post 3 in her first Gold Final.
The last Gold Elimination saw Circles pick up a third straight Gold Elimination trophy for trainer, owner and breeder John Smith of Woodlawn. The Majestic Son daughter and driver Jacques Hebert took command before the halfway marker and sailed home to a convincing two and three-quarter length victory in a personal best 1:57.
Frisky Strike and Crystal Rayne closed smartly to grab the second and third-place share of $40,000, while reigning Gold Final champ and fan favourite Counter Pointe faded to sixth.
Circles will start from Post 5 in next Monday’s Gold Final, joined by the top two finishers from each elimination, along with lucky third-place finishers Zorgwijk Mercedes and Tyrany Seelster. The complete post position line up for the freshman trotting fillies’ third Gold Final is as follows:
$130,000 Gold Series Final — Monday, Aug. 15 at Mohawk Racetrack
Post 1 Phoenix Goal
Post 2 Kylie Hall
Post 3 Princess Fortune
Post 4 Destinys Magic
Post 5 Circles
Post 6 Tyrany Seelster
Post 7 Cool Creek Breeze
Post 8 Dancehall Mistress
Post 9 Zorgwijk Mercedes
Post 10 Frisky Strike
For complete results please go to: Mohawk Racetrack Results — Aug. 8, 2011