WINDSOR, ON — After a rainy afternoon Windsor Raceway’s surface was rated one second slower than normal on Saturday night, but that did not stop two-year-old pacing filly Lady Dillinger from equalling the track record with a scorching 1:53.3 victory in her Gold Elimination.
With Mario Baillargeon in the race bike, Lady Dillinger allowed favourite Lucks Mistress to set the early fractions of :27.4 and :57 before powering to the front heading to the 1:24.3 three-quarters. From there the D M Dilinger daughter simply ran off on the field, hitting the wire 16 lengths ahead of Lucks Mistress and 22 lengths up on Trace Of Luck, owned by Dennis Fairall of Windsor, Susan McNeight of St. Marys and trainer Mark Horner of St. Marys.
The 1:53.3 mile equalled the freshman pacing filly track record shared by Ontario Sires Stakes greats Odies Fame (1998) and Precious Delight (2001).
Gaetan Hebert of Freelton bred and owns Lady Dillinger, who boasts a record of four wins, two seconds and two thirds in 11 starts this season, for earnings of $161,959. Warsaw resident Nat Varty took over training duties from Hebert just after the filly delivered a disappointing sixth-place finish in the Oct. 2 Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack.
The other Gold Elimination went to Claires Apache and Kevin Wallis, who held a stubborn neck in front of Shes Almost Famous to secure the comparatively sedate 1:59.1 victory. Ingrid Bergrin was one and a half lengths back in third.
Trainer Gregg McNair of Guelph bred Claires Apache and owns her in partnership with Londesborough resident Ian Fleming. The Apaches Fame daughter has four wins and one second to her credit from nine starts and has banked $160,098 for her owners.
Also advancing to next Saturday’s freshman pacing filly Gold Final are fourth-place finishers Takes The Cake and Babyremembermyname, while fifth-place finishers Late Curfew and Azreal will have to await the result of the draw to see which of them will join the top eight on the starting gate.
The three-year-old pacing colt eliminations featured one heavily anticipated victory and one long shot.
In the first split reigning Gold Final winner and overwhelming favourite Geartogear cruised unchallenged to a 1:53.1 victory over Armbro Balmoral, Galantine Hanover, Armbro Beijing and L H Stryker. The Grinfromeartoear son and driver Kevin Wallis went directly to the front from Post 2 and hit the wire four lengths ahead of the field.
Nat Varty trains Geartogear for Perfect World Enterprises of Old Westbury, NY. The win was the colt’s eighth through 17 starts and bumped his earnings over $350,000 for the year.
Four races later long shot Pokagon and driver Brad Forward stalked pacesetter D Essential through fractions of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:23.2 and then stepped out in the stretch to score a 1:53 victory.
Pokagon captured the season opening Gold Series Final at Flamboro Downs, but has not visited the winner’s circle after a Gold Series since that May 16 event. His other two victories came in overnight action south of the border.
Roger Welch of Beecher, IL trains the Armbro Operative son for his partner, and the gelding’s breeder, Gordon Wright of Charlotte, MI.
Freedom Hanover closed well to be second, with D Essential hanging on for third and Armbro Brando and favourite Mata Harry rounding out the top five.
Like the pacing fillies, the top four finishers and one fifth-place finisher from the sophomore pacing colt eliminations will return to Windsor Raceway next Saturday, Nov. 6 for the last $100,000 Gold Final of their careers.