GLOUCESTER, ON — Independent Woman trotted her way to a second Gold Final victory on Wednesday night at Rideau Carleton Raceway. Hitting the wire three-quarters of a length ahead of the competition the Royal Strength daughter regained a commanding lead atop the two-year-old trotting filly division standings.
Wayne Henry piloted Independent Woman to the 2:01.2 victory, which saw the gifted filly control the race from start to finish. Leaving from Post 5 the duo rolled through fractions of :30, 1:00.4 and 1:29.4 en route to the win, their sixth in eight starts.
George Zirnis and Snazzy Millie delivered an impressive performance up the outside to claim second-place honours ahead of local favourite Sephora, bred and owned by Dr. Frederick Albert of Prescott.
Sent off as the heavy favourite, Independent Woman returned $3.20 to win, $2.80 to place and $2.60 to show. As the fans fourth choice Snazzy Millie returned $9.00 to place and $3.00 to show while second-choice Sephora returned $2.70. The Independent Woman – Snazzy Millie exactor paid $34.90 and adding Sephora to your triactor ticket resulted in a $64.60 pay out on a $2.00 investment.
Trainer Ross Henry and his sons Wayne and Trevor share ownership on Independent Woman, who has already banked $212,923 in her brief career. A sister to the winners of $850,872, four of them trained by Henry, Independent Woman was a bargain at $40,000 in last fall’s Canadian Classic Yearling Sale.
The two-year-old trotting fillies do not make their next Gold Series start until Sept. 25 at Windsor Raceway and, while many of her peers will head to Mohawk Racetrack in the coming weeks for Grand Circuit stake events, Independent Woman is looking forward to a well-deserved holiday at Henry’s Arthur farm.
Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday, Oct. 18 when the two-year-old trotting fillies return for their final Trillium Series event.