GLOUCESTER, ON — While seven of the top 10 point earners will catch their breath and skip Sunday’s mid-season Gold Eliminations, six newcomers to the two-year-old trotting filly scene are keen to test their skills over the Rideau Carleton Raceway oval.

Among the fillies making her debut on Sunday is Rick Zeron trainee Joyce, who will start from Post 2 in the first $47,785 division.

“The Sires Stakes program had three Gold’s in one month and that was too much for my filly,” says Zeron of the young trotter’s late appearance on the provincial scene. “She’s a June 9 foal so I decided to get her ready for the end of July.”

Joyce, named in honour of Zeron’s wife, prepped for her Ontario Sires Stakes debut with a July 14 qualifier at Mohawk Racetrack. The Angus Hall miss toured the Mohawk oval in 2:04, finishing third.

“When I qualified her I just took my time with her,” notes Zeron, who bred the filly and shares ownership on her with Paul Marion of Marionville and Joe Arcara of Laval, QC. “And I’ve schooled her twice since.”

The first foal out of Zeron’s mare Chips Flower, Joyce was among the Oakville resident’s favourites all winter, vindicating his decision to purchase her back from last fall’s Canadian Open Yearling Sale when she failed to bring more than $50,000.

“She’s a very nice mare. She did everything perfect,” he says. “As she got older, she just got better.”

Committed to participate in the East Coast versus Ontario Driver’s Challenge at Truro Raceway on Sunday, Zeron will hand the lines off to Jacques Hebert and he does not expect the veteran horseman will have any trouble with the novice trotter.

“My mare is perfect to drive,” he says. “She can leave the gate like a pacer.”

Among the fillies Joyce and Hebert will face on Sunday is reigning Gold Final champion Tymal Timeout, who will start from Post 1. Wayne Henry trains and drives Tymal Timeout and he will also harness Windsong Darling, piloted from Post 5 by his brother Trevor Henry, in the first elimination and H S Gingersnap and Malahide from Posts 3 and 6 in the second elimination.

Rideau Carleton Raceway’s Sunday evening program begins at 6:30 pm and the two-year-old trotting fillies will square off in Races 2 and 4. The top four finishers from each elimination, plus one fifth-place finisher selected by random draw, will return to the Ottawa oval on Sunday, Aug. 6 for their third $130,000 Gold Final.

For complete entries please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/entries/data/eridcfsu.html