REXDALE, ON — Reigning Gold Final champion Independent Woman cruised to an impressive 2:00.2 victory on Monday night over a Woodbine Racetrack surface that was downgraded to sloppy just before her Gold Elimination.
The Royal Strength daughter and driver Wayne Henry controlled the race from start to finish, boasting a seven length lead at the top of the stretch and hitting the wire three and one quarter lengths in front of runner-up Vics Flag.
It was the fourth straight victory for the Ross Henry trainee, who captured her Trillium Series division at Hanover Raceway on July 20, the Gold Final at Flamboro Downs on July 13 and her Gold Elimination on July 6. In her June 29 racing debut she finished third in a Trillium event at Sudbury Downs. Henry also owns the winner of $108,096, who is the fifth straight offspring of Witsends Robin that he has purchased.
X T C finished fourth in the third elimination but was placed ahead to third when Sephora was set back for causing interference.
Favourite Mikestory also delivered a solid victory in the first elimination, stopping the clock in 1:59.2 before the track was downgraded to sloppy. Like Independent Woman, the Eager Seelster daughter and trainer-driver Bill Megens led the field through fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:29.3 en route to the win.
Troy resident Megens owns Mikestory, who improved her record to three wins and two seconds in five starts and boosted her earnings to $78,341 with the win over Wescott and Aimees Image.
The second Elimination saw Clarice Marie score a major upset over favourite and pacesetter Nomireatras. Trainer-driver Tom Durand and Clarice Marie sat sixth throughout the mile and then kicked into overdrive down the Woodbine stretch to score the one and one quarter length win in 2:01.
Longshot No Chatting also closed well to earn the second place share of the $32,663 purse, forcing Nomireatras to settle for third.
Sent off as the second longest shot in the race, Clarice Marie returned $47.60 to win, $20.50 to place and $7.70 to show. No Chatting earned her backers $36.90 to place and $12.90 to show while Nomireatras returned $2.50 to show. The 6 – 9 exactor was worth a cool $1,239.00 and the triactor paid an impressive $4,262.40.
Puslinch resident Durand leases Clarice Marie, who picked up her first victory in two tries and advanced to the Aug. 5 Gold Final. The top three finishers from each Elimination plus one fourth-place finisher drawn by lot will make the return trip to Woodbine Racetrack on the Civic Holiday for their second crack at a $130,000 jackpot.