WINDSOR, ON — No worse than third in four previous Gold Series starts, three-year-old trotting filly Magic Wheel finally found the winner’s circle at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening.
Last year’s freshman trotting filly champion at the Grassroots level, Magic Wheel returned to the Grassroots at the start of her sophomore season and romped to a pair of effortless victories on the front end. Since moving up to the Gold Series level a combination of outside post positions and racing luck have served to keep Magic Wheel off the front end, but trainer-driver Joe Hudon rectified that situation on Sunday.
Originally slated to start from Post 5, Hudon and Magic Wheel edged one spot closer to the rail when Peach Martini was scratched from the event due to sickness, and as the gates closed Hudon had the filly in high gear. Magic Wheel reached the :26.4 quarter with a one and one-half length lead and was able to maintain that margin through the more sedate :57 half.
Fan favourite China Pearls came calling at the 1:26 three-quarters, but Magic Wheel picked up the tempo and turned for home one and one-quarter lengths on top. China Pearls and elimination winner Oh Sweet Baby did their best to reel in the front runner in the stretch but Magic Wheel stayed game to the wire, claiming a neck victory in 1:55.2.
China Pearls and Oh Sweet Baby settled for second and third with the other two pieces of the $130,000 Gold Final purse going to Eagle Canada in fourth and Enchantment in fifth. The 1:55.2 mile shaved one-fifth of a second off the track record established by Oh Sweet Baby in last week’s Gold Elimination.
Hudon trains Magic Wheel for his wife Karen Hudon of Acton and the filly’s breeder Margaret Payne of St. Augustine, FL. Through 14 sophomore starts the daughter of Kadabra and WS Balanced Wheel has tallied four wins, four seconds and five thirds for earnings of $235,924. Added to the $103,880 the filly earned at two, Magic Wheel now boasts lifetime earnings of $339,804.
The victory moved Magic Wheel into third spot in the division point standings, securing her berth in the $300,000 Super Final at Woodbine Racetrack on Nov. 12. The top 10 point earners will compete in the rich season finale.
Sunday’s track record setting effort by Magic Wheel wrapped up Windsor Raceway’s Ontario Sires Stakes season, which saw the southern Ontario oval host two Gold Series events.
For complete results please go to: Windsor Raceway Results — Oct. 9, 2011