CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Ontario’s talented two-year-old trotting fillies shot holes in the theory that an outside post position precludes a visit to the winner’s circle with four impressive Gold Elimination performances at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening.
Reigning Gold Final champion Cumin First was the first to disprove the outside post theory — and increase the respect Ontario Sires Stakes fans have in her ability — with an outstanding effort from Post 10 in Race 1.
With regular reinsman Rick Zeron at the lines, Cumin First accelerated off the starting gate and dropped into third spot on the rail as Lookin Back At You led the field to a :29 opening quarter. Heading for the :59.2 half, Looking Back At You yielded to co-favourite Daylon Mystique, who clocked a 1:28.4 three-quarters. Cumin First continued to sit in third spot, as many as six lengths behind the early leaders.
As the fillies started to spin around the final turn Zeron sent Cumin First up the outside and then shifted the Striking Sahbra miss into high gear in the stretch. The talented young trotter simply sprinted away from Daylon Mystique to a four and three-quarter length victory in 1:58.3. Lookin Back At You stayed game for third.
Frank O’Reilly trains Cumin First for Mary Anne Lauzon and Dr. Ruth Irving of Russell, Jim Fielding of Toronto and John Jesson of Tillsonburg. Undefeated through three starts, the $77,000 purchase at the June 8 Two’s In Training Sale has already returned $100,000 to her delighted owners.
The second $40,000 Gold Elimination saw Easter Bonnet fire off the starting gate from Post 8, take command of the race just past the :28.1 opening quarter, and then lead the field through fractions of :58 and 1:28.1 on her way to a two and one-quarter length triumph in 1:59.1. SOS Respect turned her pocket trip into a runner-up cheque, and Serenas Genie trotted strongly through the final quarter to finish third.
A $6,500 bargain at the Canadian Open Yearling Sale, first time starter Easter Bonnet is owned by Ecuries Guy Gagnon Inc. of Gatineau, QC and Ecurie Richard Moreau Inc. of Lachenaie, QC. Richard Moreau also handles training duties on the Berndt Hanover daughter and driver Guy Gagnon engineered her two and one-quarter length victory.
In the third Gold Eliminaton Paul MacDonell tore a page from Gagnon’s book and had I’ll Wait For You rolling away from Post 8. The youngster landed in second as Paycheck Lavec swung down from Post 9 to a :29.2 opening quarter, and then MacDonell sent her back after the lead before the :59.1 half.
Comfortably on top at the 1:30.4 three-quarters, I’ll Wait For You fended off a challenge from B Cor Tanya and then cruised down the stretch to the 1:59.4 victory. B Cor Tanya settled for second, one and a half lengths behind the winner, and Maple Point was two more lengths back in third.
Dan Creighton trains I’ll Wait For You on behalf of his partners in the Danterra Racing Stable of Strathroy, and selected the filly out of the Forest City Yearling Sale for $62,000. Like Easter Bonnet, Monday’s outing was I’ll Wait For You’s racing debut.
While the final elimination saw the only winner hailing from the inside of the starting gate, runner-up Keep In Dutch cannoned off the wings from Post 10 and laid down all the fractions before being collared by a nose at the wire by Magical Debut. Both fillies delivered exceptional performances as Magical Debut started from Post 1, but was forced to take the long way around the outside of the seven-eighths mile oval on her way to the winner’s circle.
Elusive Desire rounded out the top three in the last elimination, starting from Post 8 and holding off a fast closing Stonebridge Diva in the stretch.
The winner of the Gold Consolation at Flamboro Downs on July 20, Magical Debut proved she belongs in next week’s $120,000 Gold Final with her impressive elimination win. Jason Libby trains the Striking Sahbra daughter for Anne and Bertha Postmus of Ingersoll, who acquired the filly from last fall’s Forest City Yearling Sale for $18,000. In three starts Magical Debut has already banked $34,800.
The top two finishers from each elimination, plus lucky third-place finishers Serenas Genie and Elusive Desire, will return to Mohawk Racetrack next Monday, Aug. 4 for their second $120,000 Gold Final. After failing to earn their way into the final through the random draw, the other two third-place finishers will be looking for a sizeable share of the $20,000 pie in the Gold Consolation.
Elimination winners Cumin First, I’ll Wait For You and Magical Debut will be looking to beat the post position odds for a second straight week as they drew Posts 7, 9 and 10 for the Final. The complete field will line up behind Mohawk Racetrack’s starting gate as follows:
Post 1 — SOS Respect
Post 2 — B Cor Tanya
Post 3 — Easter Bonnet
Post 4 — Daylon Mystique
Post 5 — Serenas Genie
Post 6 — Elusive Desire
Post 7 — Cumin First
Post 8 — Keep In Dutch
Post 9 — Ill Wait For You
Post 10 — Magical Debut
For complete results please go to: http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rmohsmo.html.