CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Cross Of Lorraine defended her Gold Final title with a superlative performance at Mohawk Racetrack on Saturday evening.

Driver Jody Jamieson of Moffat, ON had the three-year-old trotting filly coiled like a spring behind the starting gate, and when the wings folded Cross Of Lorraine exploded away from Post 5 to the front of the 10-horse field. The heavy favourite reached the opening eighth in :13 and the quarter in :26.4 before Jamieson took his foot off the gas and let her coast along to a :56.2 half.

Heading for the 1:24.1 three-quarters it appeared that elimination winner No Magic To It would mount a challenge up the outside behind Highland Strikes, but neither filly could gain any traction against Cross Of Lorraine who turned for home one and one-half lengths on top. As the fillies squared up with the wire, Lyle MacArthur and Emmylou Who roared out of the pocket, but on this night Cross Of Lorraine was indomitable and sailed home a half length winner in a stunning track and Ontario Sires Stakes record 1:52.4.

Former Gold Final champion Random Destiny closed like a rocket, sprinting from last at the three-quarter pole to grab the third-place share of the $130,000 purse, three and three-quarter lengths behind the leaders. Highland Strikes and No Magic To It were the other two cheque earners from fourth and fifth.

Cross Of Lorraine’s impressive clocking ripped a full second off the former Ontario Sires Stakes record for three-year-old trotting fillies on a seven-eighths mile track, set by Brigham Dream at Mohawk in 2007. It is the fastest mile ever posted by a trotter — colt, gelding or filly — in Ontario Sires Stakes competition. The Angus Hall daughter also owns the provincial record for sophomore trotting lasses on a five-eighths mile oval, established in her Gold Final victory at Georgian Downs on July 10.

Princeton, ON resident Carl Jamieson trains Cross Of Lorraine for his partners Thomas Kyron of Toronto, ON and Hope Johnson of London, ON. Through 11 starts this season the gifted young trotter has accumulated eight wins and one second for earnings of $277,936.

Raced just three times at two due to problems with her knees, Cross Of Lorraine was not kept eligible to any of the major stake races for three-year-old trotting fillies. Based on recent results Cross Of Lorraine would have fit right in with North America’s finest — this year’s Hambletonian Oaks, held at The Meadowlands on Aug. 7, was captured by Bar Slide in 1:53.4.

Cross Of Lorraine will have an opportunity to capture a third Gold Final title when the sophomore fillies travel to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sept. 16 and 23 for their second last Gold Series event.

Mohawk Racetrack’s action-packed Ontario Sires Stakes schedule continues on Thursday, Aug. 19 when the two-year-old trotting fillies square off in their third Gold Series event. Just 10 days after their second Gold Final triumph, Extraordinaire and Wayne Henry will be looking to make it three in a row over the Campbellville oval.

For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/racing/results/data/r0814mohsn.dat.