LONDON, ON — Trevor Ritchie piloted the winners of both Gold Series Eliminations at Western Fair Raceway on Saturday evening, landing two-year-old trotting fillies Elena and Real Live Woman in the winner’s circle.
Ritchie’s primary reason for travelling to London was to drive reigning Gold Final champion Elena in the first elimination and the pair delivered their second straight victory from Post 2. The trotting specialist settled the heavy favourite in second as pacesetter Heartful Image laid down fractions of :30, 1:00.2 and 1:31, then swung out in the stretch to sprint home to the 2:02.3 victory by half a length.
Heartful Image stayed game for second, edging out challenger Gaelic who was driven to a third-place finish by owner Karen Carroll of Shedden. Fourth-place finisher Maleficent also advanced to next Friday’s $100,000 Gold Final.
The win was Elena’s third of the season and boosted her earnings through 10 starts to $160,680 for trainer Christopher Beaver of Delaware, OH and his partner, and the San Pellegrino filly’s breeder, Wilbur Stoll Lang of Jamestown, OH.
Three races later Ritchie was back in front of the Western Fair track photographer with fan favourite Real Live Woman, who romped to a front end victory in 2:03.1. The Angus Hall daughter hit the wire two and three-quarter lengths ahead of Lookit, three and a half lengths in front of Pretty In Plaid and five and one-quarter lengths up on Dream On Bernie.
Trainer Gregory Peck of Newtown, PA and Gerald Bloch of Cote-St-Luc, QC purchased Real Live Woman at last fall’s Harrisburg Yearling Sale for $43,000 US. Ironically, the filly was raised with Elena at breeder Wilbur Lang’s Jamestown, Ohio farm.
The winner of the first Gold Final of the season on July 13 at Woodbine Racetrack, Real Live Woman boasts a record of four wins and two seconds through eight starts. She currently sits atop the two-year-old trotting filly standings with 175 points earned through two wins and one second in elimination action and one Gold Final win.
In addition to her provincial prowess Real Live Woman captured a Robert Stewart Elimination at Woodbine on Aug. 19 and finished second in a Champlain Stakes division at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 7.
Real Live Woman and Elena, plus the second, third and fourth-place finishers from each elimination, will return to Western Fair Raceway on Friday, Nov. 5 for a head-to-head match up in the last $100,000 Gold Final of their freshman campaign.