DUNDAS, ON — Ontario’s top three-year-old trotting fillies head back to Flamboro Downs on Sunday evening for the second last $130,000 Gold Final of their Sires Stakes careers.
Heading up the list of nine talented young trotters is elimination winner For The Luva Moni, who halted the Flamboro teletimer at 1:58.3, just two-fifths of a second shy of the track and Ontario Sires Stakes record.
“The last little while she’s come back into her own. I think we’re peaking at the right time,” says Ned Gvoich, who shares ownership on the filly with trainer Dr. John Hayes of Beamsville and Kim Kaplan of Worcester, MA. “She was less than perfect there after she was sick, now she seems to be getting back to her old self.”
For The Luva Moni sails into Sunday’s Final on a three-race win streak after capturing the elimination and final of the Ontario Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association Trot at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 11 and 19 and last week’s Gold Elimination. In spite of missing the second Gold event when she was struck by an equine virus in early summer, the Balanced Image daughter sits atop the division standings with 200 points and will be looking to add to that total from Post 5 in Sunday’s third race.
Regular reinsman Trevor Ritchie will return to the bike for Sunday’s Final, although Gvoich is quick to commend substitute Shane Weber for his work in the elimination.
“Shane (Weber) gave her a good drive,” said Gvoich, “He’s an awful good driver; he doesn’t get enough credit.”
Following Sunday’s Final the three-year-old trotting fillies have one Gold Series event and the $300,000 Super Final left on their Ontario Sires Stakes schedule and, provided she remains happy and healthy, For The Luva Moni will also compete in the Breeders Crown at New Jersey’s The Meadowlands on Nov. 22 and 29. Looking beyond that Gvoich admits he and his partners are facing the toughest decision they have encountered during the filly’s career.
“If she’s fine she’s got all the way to the Meadowlands in November and we’ll see after that. It’s really quite a dilemma,” he says. “It’s been our style to sell four-year-olds, not all at once, but as the opportunity arises. And we’re really not in a position to be breeders, our game really is going to the sales and picking through yearlings.
“The chances of her being sold at public auction are there. It would be the toughest thing I’ve ever done, but it might happen.”
Rather than focus on what could be a wrenching choice, Gvoich is simply looking forward to Sunday when he will not only watch For The Luva Moni compete in the Gold Final, but also be rooting for two-year-old pacing colt Flight Fifteen in the first of three Flamboro Breeders events on the program.
“We’re going to be there cheering,” says Gvoich. “It’s always fun going to Flamboro. You’re right on top of the track and, with the slot money, it’s just unbelievable how nice the facility is.”
Flamboro Downs raises the curtain on its first race at 6:20 pm and turns the spotlight on For The Luva Moni and her peers in Race 3, while the Flamboro Breeders events go postward as Races 6, 8 and 11.