WINDSOR, ON — Invitro added another feather to her cap at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening, capturing her fourth Gold Final in track and Ontario Sires Stakes record time.
The brilliant three-year-old pacing filly and driver Paul MacDonell took command of the race just past the :26.2 opening quarter and proceeded to sail around the Windsor five-eighths in fractions of :55.1 and 1:23 on their way to the 1:51.4 track record performance. Ontario Sires Stakes competitor Jasper Avenue, also driven by MacDonell, set the former standard of 1:52 last November.
Manhattan Killean and On This Day, owned by trainer Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. of La Salle, John Fielding of Toronto and CSX Stables of Liberty Center, OH, closed well to finish six and a half lengths behind Invitro in second and third.
Trainer Gord Irwin of Cobourg and Murray Ross of Norwood bred and own Invitro, who has earned $941,289 through an outstanding two year campaign in the Ontario Sires Stakes program. Sunday’s record setting performance marked the Camluck daughter’s fourth straight victory and her eleventh consecutive triumph against her Ontario-sired peers. In addition to three Gold Series Eliminations and four Gold Finals, the talented young pacer posted victories in the Canadian Breeders Championship and Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association Stake this summer.
Sunday’s $130,000 contest wrapped up the three-year-old pacing fillies’ regular season and Invitro finished up with a commanding lead atop the point standings, earning 387 points out of a possible 500. The division queen and the other nine leading point earners will make their next Ontario Sires Stakes start at Woodbine Racetrack in the $300,000 Super Final on Nov. 13.
If Invitro bounces back well from her track record performance, fans could have an opportunity to see her prior to the Super Final. Irwin and Ross are considering anteing up the $50,000 US supplemental fee to start Invitro in the Breeders Crown Eliminations at Woodbine on Oct. 16.
In her only starts against North America’s best, Invitro finished second to eventual winner Rainbow Blue in her 1:49.2 Fan Hanover Elimination, and fourth in the Final in spite of being handicapped by Post 10 on a sloppy racing surface.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Windsor Raceway on Friday, Oct. 29 with Gold Elimination action for the two-year-old pacing fillies, and the border oval also offers Gold Series Eliminations on Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31 for the three-year-old pacing colts and three-year-old trotting fillies.