CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — A pair of Angus Hall daughters were impressive winners in two-year-old trotting filly Gold Series action at Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday evening.
Reigning Gold Final champion Honour Way and Chris Christoforou seized control of the first Gold Elimination just past the opening quarter and cruised home to a three and one-quarter length triumph over first time OSS starter Fan Favourite and former Gold Final winner World Class Image.
The win was only the second of the season for Honour Way, who made her career debut in a Gold Elimination at Windsor Raceway on Aug. 25. After capturing the Sept. 1 Gold Final the talented young trotter turned her hand to Grand Circuit Stakes at Mohawk where she posted a pair of runner-up finishes and one third in three starts.
Trainer Dave Tingley of Guelph shares ownership on Honour Way with driver Christoforou of Campbellville, Goin My Way Stable of Holland, PA and Murray Goldberg of Longboat Key, FL.
Mohawk Racetrack fans wisely sent the filly off as their top choice and earned $3.00, $2.50 and $2.20 on each win, place and show wager. Fan Favourite returned $8.40 and $4.10 to place and show and second choice World Class Image paid $3.20 to show. The exactor was worth $17.80 and the triactor returned $67.70.
Fourth and fifth-place finishers Northern Bonnet and Lookit round out the finalists for next week’s $130,000 Gold Final from the first elimination.
Philhallmonic overcame Post 9 in the sixth race to score her first ever win, trotting under the wire in a sharp 1:59. Driver Patrick Lachance allowed the filly to float off the starting gate and sit on the outside through the first half of the mile before making his move to the front. Under pressure through the remainder of the mile, Philhallmonic fought off runner-up Elena to secure the victory by a nose. Maleficent, owned by Thomas and Sherri Vincent of Belwood and June Durand of Puslinch, was three lengths back in third and Heartful Image and Spiaggia also advanced to the Gold Final.
The win moved Philhallmonic one step closer to repaying her $115,000 US purchase price to owners Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, Charles Armstrong of Brampton and Dr. Scott Anderson of Campbellville. Through nine starts the Rene Laarman trainee has one win, two seconds and earnings of $81,914.
Philhallmonic repaid her supporters with $10.20, $3.70 and $3.80 dividends, while second choice Elena returned $4.80 and $4.10 to place and show and long shot Maleficent’s third-place effort was worth $9.50. The exactor paid $46.90 and the triactor was worth $626.10.
The top five finishers from each elimination will return to Mohawk Racetrack on Tuesday, Oct. 5 for the fourth $130,000 Gold Final on their freshman calendar.