OTTAWA, ON — Freshman trotting fillies with local connections dominated a trio of Gold Eliminations at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday evening, starting with an effortless performance by reigning Gold Final champion Circles.

Starting from Post 2 with regular reinsman Jacques Hebert at the lines, Circles floated away from the gate and sat briefly in second as Counter Pointe sped out to a :28.3 opening quarter. Heading for the :58.2 half Hebert sent the fan favourite after the lead and she sailed by a 1:28 three-quarters on her way to a two length victory in 1:57.3, a new track record for two-year-old trotting fillies.

Cool Creek Breeze sprinted into second and early leader Counter Pointe rounded out the top three, who will all advance to next week’s $130,000 Gold Final.

Woodlawn resident John Smith bred, owns and trains Circles, a daughter of Majestic Son out of his superlative broodmare Merles Image. Through seven starts, all in the Gold Series program, Circles has now tallied five wins and two seconds for earnings of $210,000 and ownership of top spot in the division standings. Hebert will send the consistent youngster after win number six from Post 6 in next Thursday’s Gold Final.

The second $40,000 Gold Elimination went to another daughter of Majestic Son with local connections. Miss Majestic sprinted away from Post 6 and led the field through fractions of :29.1, 1:00.3 and 1:29.3 on her way to a one and three-quarter length victory in 1:58.3. Frisky Strike rode a pocket trip behind the favourite into second, just ahead of Elin, who spent most of the mile on the outside.

Sylvain Filion engineered Miss Majestic’s first Ontario Sires Stakes victory for trainer Mark Steacy of Lansdowne and owners Steacy Hing Bertrand of Lansdowne, ON, Landmark IV Racing Stable of Kingston, ON, Bannon Stables of Napanee, ON and Diane Bertrand of Edmonton, AB. In seven starts the filly, a $13,000 purchase from last year’s Canadian Yearling Sale, has two wins and one third and Thursday’s triumph boosted her earnings to $56,150.

Having trained sire Majestic Son to earnings of $1.9 million during his career, Steacy had high hopes for Miss Majestic at the start of the season, but it took the addition of trotting hopples in mid-August to help the filly achieve her potential. Since the equipment change Miss Majestic has not missed a cheque in four starts, including a third in her elimination and a fifth in the $447,000 final of the Peaceful Way at Mohawk Racetrack Sept. 8 and 17.

The final Gold Elimination trophy went home with Miss Paris, who got a come-from-behind steer from driver Scott Zeron. Easing away from Post 1, Miss Paris sat fourth through the :29.2 quarter and :59.2 half clocked by Twin B Sensation and then powered up the outside at the 1:28.2 three-quarters to a five and one-half length victory in 1:57.3, carving her name into Rideau Carleton’s record books alongside Circles.

Twin B Sensation was a solid second, reaching the wire four lengths ahead of third-place finisher The Magic Of Paris.

Richard “Nifty” Norman trains Miss Paris for Ottawa resident Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, FL and David McDuffee of Delray Beach, FL. Through eight starts the Kadabra daughter, a $210,000 yearling purchase, has accumulated three wins, two seconds and one third for earnings of $136,437. Thursday’s outing was the filly’s first in the Ontario Sires Stakes program.

Zeron will steer Miss Paris from Post 5 in next week’s Gold Final, while Filion and Miss Majestic will be handicapped by the outside Post 8. The complete line up for the Sept. 29 Gold Final is as follows:

$130,000 Gold Series Final — Thursday, Sept. 29 at Rideau Carleton Raceway

Post 1 Cool Creek Breeze

Post 2 Elin

Post 3 Frisky Strike

Post 4 Twin B Sensation

Post 5 Miss Paris

Post 6 Circles

Post 7 The Magic Of Paris

Post 8 Miss Majestic

Post 9 Counter Pointe

Also Eligible 1 Filly In Pink

Also Eligible 2 Smarty Pants

Also Eligible 3 Racing Dreams

For complete results please go to: Rideau Carleton Raceway Results — Sept. 22, 2011