CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Lady D M’s fans were out in force at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening and the three-year-old pacing filly did not disappoint them, earning her second straight Gold Final title with a personal best 1:52 effort.

“We have a big family ourselves and a big following for her,” said owner Walter Parkinson from the crowded winner’s circle. “Lucan just loves their horses. And the Clinton area, and even the London area, they all follow that horse straight.

“It’s a lovely feeling, just a great feeling,” added the long time Standardbred owner, who resides in Lucan with his family.

Bred by Parkinson’s daughter Melanie, Lady D M has been developing her fan base since last December when she captured five straight races at London’s Western Fair Raceway. The Andy Hardy trainee did not lose a race until she made the move to Woodbine Racetrack for the Miss Vera Bars Series, where she finished second in a leg and the final.

Two more victories at Western Fair and a win in the opening leg of the Silver Reign Series marked the filly’s second win streak, and she bounced right back from a runner-up performance in the second leg of the Silver Reign to capture the $51,800 Final.

After the March 28 Silver Reign Final, Hardy and the Parkinson family chose to give Lady D M a well deserved holiday in order to prepare her for the Ontario Sires Stakes season. That strategy paid off with a second in the first Gold Elimination of the year and a victory in the May 29 Gold Final at Rideau Carleton Raceway.

A second in last week’s elimination, over a sloppy Woodbine oval, and Monday’s victory give the D M Dilinger daughter an impressive record of 11 wins and five seconds in 16 lifetime starts and earnings of $234,928.

While the filly’s connections have enjoyed the level of her success, Parkinson said that he had an inkling she was this good after an impressive Western Fair outing back in December.

“Basically after the third start in London; she showed tremendous will power,” he explained. “I didn’t know how fast she’d ever be, but she’s sure got a heart of gold.”

Six-time Lampman Cup winner Ross Battin piloted Lady D M to her seventh win of the season, hustling her off the starting gate and then allowing Fannies Fortune and Tattootina to lay down all the fractions while he saved ground on the rail. Turning for home Battin shifted Lady D M into gear and the filly powered to the three-quarter length victory over elimination winners Serenity Seelster and Tattootina, who was sent off as the favourite by Mohawk fans.

Battin and Lady D M will have another opportunity to defend their position at the top of the sophomore pacing filly leader board on July 2 at Georgian Downs, while Ontario Sires Stakes action returns to Mohawk Racetrack this Friday with two Gold Eliminations for the three-year-old trotting colts.

For complete results from Monday’s program go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rmohsmo.html