ELORA, ON — After settling for the runner-up role in her first two stakes finals, two-year-old pacing filly Its No Secret finally found her way to the winner’s circle with a gate-to-wire effort at Grand River Raceway on Friday evening.

Starting from Post 3 in the $130,000 Gold Final, driver Anthony MacDonald had Its No Secret flying early and the fans’ second choice was on top by a length at the :28.4 opening quarter. Through a :58.2 half and a 1:27 three-quarters Its No Secret never saw a challenger, and the Badlands Hanover daughter cruised home a two length winner in 1:56.4.

Elimination winner Kims Royal Day picked up the second-place spoils and Kamkar Kutie turned her pocket trip into a third-place share. Prynne Hanover was fourth and reigning Gold Final champion, and the fans’ top choice, Right On Molly had to settle for fifth from the outside Post 8.

Guelph resident MacDonald engineered Its No Secret’s victory for trainer Shawn Robinson and owner-breeder Robert Hamather of Exeter. Before Friday’s win the second generation product of Hamather’s breeding program had scored one overnight win, one Gold Elimination win and a victory in her Battle Of The Belles Elimination, but had been unable to find the winner’s enclosure when the added money was on the line.

Through her first seven lifetime starts Its No Secret has tallied four wins, two seconds and one third for earnings of $166,500. Currently ranked third in the freshman pacing filly standings, the filly will begin defense of her Gold Final title on Sept. 21 at Flamboro Downs.

Grand River Raceway will now begin preparations for hosting the Grassroots Semifinals next week. Sixty-four of the province’s top three-year-old trotters and pacers will arrive at the Elora oval on Wednesday, Sept. 19 for their Semifinals, with the two-year-olds gathering on Friday, Sept. 21.

Once the dust has settled and the challengers have been determined the top eight Grassroots competitors from each division will return to Grand River Raceway for Grassroots Championship night on Saturday, Sept. 29.

For complete results please go to Grand River Raceway Results — September 14, 2012