WINDSOR, ON — Erotica extended her Ontario Sires Stakes win streak to three compliments of a picture perfect steer by Douglas R. Ackerman at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening.
Leaving from Post 5, Ackerman tucked in behind fan favourite Merry Rules and sat comfortably in the pocket through fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:27. As the fillies straightened out at the top of the stretch the veteran reinsman asked Erotica for second gear and the filly responded with a finishing kick that propelled her to a two and one quarter length victory in 1:56.3.
Merry Rules earned the second-place finisher’s share of the $52,925 purse while the steady Dream On Bernie, owned by trainer George Zirnis of Elmira, Janet Fairall of Windsor, Tanya Martin of Elmira and Nancy Holmes of Clinton, trotted into third. Also advancing into next Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final was fourth-place finisher Fan Favourite.
Trainer Douglas J. and Ada Jean Ackerman own Mr Lavec daughter Erotica, a third generation product of their Warren, MI based breeding operation. The filly is flawless in Gold Series action this year, capturing her elimination and the Final of the season opening Gold event at Woodbine Racetrack in May. Off the board finishes in the Casual Breeze and Elegantimage Stakes at Woodbine led Windsor fans to make Erotica their second choice, but the talented youngster proved she can still handle her Ontario-sired peers.
The second Gold Elimination was captured by the most expensive race horse ever sold in Canada. Honour Way and driver Jody Jamieson, who returned home just yesterday from the World Driving Championship in Italy, took control of the race heading past the opening quarter and never faced a serious challenge. The pair crossed the wire three and a half lengths in front of the competition, stopping the teletimer at 1:57.3.
Maleficent edged out Whispering Girl for the runner-up spot, with fourth and fifth-place finishers Elena and Heartful Image, co-owned by trainer Robert McIntosh of LaSalle, also landing a berth in next weekend’s Gold Final.
Acquired by Dundas resident Brad Gray for $295,000 at the June 12 Spring Fling Sale, Honour Way was making her first Ontario Sires Stakes start of the season. The Angus Hall daughter made her 2005 debut in a May 30 overnight at Woodbine Racetrack, where she cruised to a 1:58 victory. A 1:57.3 win in a division of the Casual Breeze followed on June 3, but a tough trip in the June 10 Elegantimage eliminations brought and end to her early season win streak. In her first start for Gray and trainer Carl Jamieson, Honour Way then finished second in the Elegantimage Consolation on June 17.
All eyes will be on the high-priced young trotter as she attempts to bring Erotica’s Ontario Sires Stakes win streak to an end in next Sunday’s $130,000 Gold Final. Post positions for the first Gold Final on Windsor Raceway’s 2005 schedule are as follows:
Post 1 Whispering Girl
Post 2 Maleficent
Post 3 Merry Rules
Post 4 Dream On Bernie
Post 5 Fan Favourite
Post 6 Elena
Post 7 Honour Way
Post 8 Erotica
Post 9 Heartful Image
AE1 Southern Senorita
AE2 Meadowviewprincess
AE3 Sassy Yank Key K
For complete results from Sunday’s program go to:
http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwrfsu.html