WINDSOR, ON — Fans playing the longshot game at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening went home with a pocketful of cash when longshot Elena sprinted down the stretch to claim a 1:58.4 victory in the three-year-old trotting filly Gold Final.

Heavy favourite Honour Way led the fillies through fractions of :28.2, :57.2 and 1:27.3 and at the top of the stretch looked poised to replicate last weekend’s elimination victory. However, things unfolded a little differently this week as five fillies had the leader lined up in their sights and proceeded to reel her in through the stretch.

In rein to trotting specialist Trevor Ritchie, Elena sat sixth through much of the mile, waiting until well past the half to fire up on the outside behind Heartful Image and Whispering Girl. By the time the fillies turned for home, Elena and Ritchie had moved up to fifth and were just two lengths off the pace.

With just two lengths separating the top five fillies at the top of the stretch, the stage was set for an outstanding finish and the sophomore trotting fillies delivered, with Elena prevailing by half a length over Whispering Girl and Fan Favourite.

Reigning Gold Final champion Erotica did not survive a tough trip on the outside and had to settle for fifth, while Honour Way faded badly, crossing the wire five lengths behind the winner in sixth.

The win was Elena’s first of the season, in only her third start back, but not her first experience in a Gold Final winner’s circle. As a two-year-old the San Pellegrino daughter captured a Gold Elimination and a Gold Final as well as her Canadian Breeders Championship elimination and a division of the Robert Stewart Stakes for earnings of $226,782.

Originally slated to start her sophomore Ontario Sires Stakes career in the Grassroots season opener on May 23, Elena was scratched out of that race due to sickness and did not make her 2005 debut until a June 12 overnight at Windsor. A runner-up finish in the overnight and a fourth-place effort behind Honour Way in last week’s elimination sharpened the filly’s skills enough so that she was able to take advantage of the ground saving trip Ritchie engineered Sunday on behalf of trainer Christopher Beaver of Delaware, OH and breeder Wilbur Lang of Jamestown, OH.

Fans who caught a glimmer of her ability last week, recalled her two-year-old form or just liked her name earned $37.10 on a win ticket, $12.60 for a place wager and $5.40 to show. Longshot Whispering Girl returned $22.20 to place and $11.10 to show, while last year’s Super Final winner Fan Favourite’s third-place effort was worth $5.40. The 6 – 1 exactor paid $734.10 and combining the three lightly rated fillies on a triactor ticket netted happy fans $3,391.50.

Elena will have an opportunity to defend her title in the third of five Gold Series events on the sophomore fillies’ schedule Aug. 11 at Mohawk Racetrack. Ontario Sires Stakes excitement does not return to Windsor Raceway until Aug. 24 when the Grassroots side of the three-year-old trotting filly division makes a stop at the border oval.

For a complete list of results please go to:

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