REXDALE, ON — Symphony Hanover scored the fastest of two Gold Series Elimination victories at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday in a minor upset over favourite Dietrich.
The three-year-old trotting filly and trainer-driver Rick Zeron got a comfortable trip in behind pacesetter Taste Test and powered off to the one and three-quarter length victory in the stretch, stopping the clock in 1:56.3. Direct Dial also closed well from behind Symphony Hanover to push Taste Test into the third-place spot. Fourth-place finisher Meanstoyourdreams and favourite Dietrich also advanced to next Monday’s $130,000 Gold Final.
The win was Symphony Hanover’s second straight and indicated that she has overcome the propensity for making breaks that plagued the first three starts of her 2002 campaign. Dream With Me Stable of Caledon East own the Balanced Image daughter, who more than doubled her season earnings with the win, pushing them to $46,029.
The first Elimination went to Early Secret in 1:56.4. The Earl daughter and driver Keith Oliver departed from Post 1, but sat in the middle of the nine-horse field through the first half of the race before making a move to the outside heading for the three-quarter marker. The duo stormed by favourite Jills Gem down the long Woodbine stretch to score their third win of the season and their second Gold Elimination victory.
Corinas Mission delivered the best effort of her sophomore campaign to finish third and Natashas Kiss, owned by Al Libfeld of Pickering, Sam Goldband of Toronto and Marvin Katz of Toronto, and Smoky Sunset also earned a berth in the Gold Final thanks to their fourth and fifth-place efforts.
Paul Walker trains Early Secret for William Loyens of London and Malcolm MacPhail of Dover Centre, who have banked over $240,000 on the filly’s behalf over the past two seasons. The Earl daughter has successfully made the transition into the Gold Series this year after spending her two-year-old season starring on the Grassroots circuit where she captured the season ending $100,000 Grassroots Championship.
The top ten three-year-old trotting fillies in Ontario will return to Woodbine Racetrack on Monday, July 22 for the second of five Gold Finals on their schedule this season.