DUNDAS, ON — Reigning Gold Final and Canadian Breeders champion McCall Magic reeled off the fastest Gold Elimination victory at Flamboro Downs on Friday afternoon.
In their tried and true come from behind fashion, the Angus Hall daughter and regular reinsman Steve Condren sat on the outside pressuring pacesetter Trophy Hall through most of the mile before stepping off a :28.4 last quarter to earn the two length win in 1:57.4. Incredible Iam, owned by Giuseppe Serratore of London and Catherine Stewart of Campbellville, ducked out from the pocket in the stretch to land in second, while Trophy Hall, owned by WDM Stables of Burlington, settled for third.
The win was McCall Magic’s second straight and her fifth of the season. Beamsville resident Dr. John Hayes trains the winner of $233,943 for his partners Michael Horgan of Roseneath, Press Time Stable of Tillsonburg and Kim Kaplan of Worcester, MA.
In the opening elimination former Gold Final winner Zorgwijk Emani returned to the winner’s circle for the first time since June 11, going wire to wire in 1:58.4. Favourite Ifhallscouldtalk survived a long trip around the outside to finish second by two and one-quarter lengths and Bliss was two more lengths back in third.
Kevin Wallis drives Zorgwijk Emani and his wife Linda Wallis trains the Valleymeister daughter for Cuzzins Stable of Boca Raton, FL. The filly captured five straight races in the early season, but struggled through the month of July and was scratched out of the July 31 Canadian Breeders Championship Final due to sickness.
The second elimination saw Silhouette Dream and Chris Christoforou edge out heavy favourite Miss Michelle H to earn the 1:58 victory by a nose. The Fill V daughter fired up around the final turn and powered by Miss Michelle H and pacesetter Stacelita to earn her first lifetime victory. Stacelita settled for the third-place finisher’s share of the $34,121 Ontario Sires Stakes purse, finishing one length behind the leaders.
Campbellville resident Joe Stutzman trains Silhouette Dream for Glenview Livestock Ltd. of Wallenstein. The filly moved into Stutzman’s barn on June 13 and has one win, three seconds and one third in her five starts since, for earnings of $68,645.
The top three finishers from each elimination will be back at Flamboro Downs next Friday, Aug. 13 for their third $130,000 Gold Final.