WINDSOR, ON — Only seven three-year-old pacing fillies will make the trip to Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening to tackle division queen Invitro in the last Gold Series Elimination of their career.
Two of the fillies taking up the challenge hail from trainer Bob McIntosh’s La Salle facility and the veteran conditioner jokes that he is conceding defeat before the starting gate even begins to roll in the $115,693 event.
“I think if Invitro drew out on the 401 somewhere we might be better off,” he say with a wry chuckle. “We’ll concede to her.”
Invitro, who has been flawless against her Ontario-sired peers since June 21, will start from Post 4 while McIntosh’s fillies Special Magic and On This Day will benefit from Posts 1 and 2 in the eleventh race.
Special Magic heads into the Gold Elimination off a month-long rest spent recovering from a minor surgery to improve her breathing and McIntosh is hopeful the results will be visible Sunday.
“Special Magic had laser surgery on her throat — she displaced her palate — so she should be better,” says McIntosh, who trains the Camluck filly for breeders Brittany Farms of Versailles, KY.
In Ontario Sires Stakes action Special Magic already boasts a pair of Gold Elimination victories and was the last Ontario-sired filly to get the best of Invitro, on June 14 at Woodbine Racetrack. She currently sits third in the division standings with 142 points.
Stablemate On This Day has been what McIntosh calls a fringe player in the Gold Series, and with 42 points she sits just below the current cut off for a berth in the season ending $300,000 Super Final. However, a solid work-out over McIntosh’s training track this week earned the Camluck miss another shot at the top fillies.
“She trained exceptionally well the other day so we decided to go there instead of the Grassroots, especially when it’s in our back yard,” says the trainer. “In fact they both trained up good for the race.”
McIntosh owns On This Day in partnership with John Fielding of Toronto and CSX Stables of Liberty Center, OH. All eight fillies will advance to the $130,000 Gold Final on Sunday, Oct. 10, but the partners would like to see On This Day add to her point tally with a top five finish.
Windsor Raceway sends its first race onto the track at 6 pm on Sunday and the talented three-year-old pacing fillies will step to centre stage in Race 11. The contest is the last of five Gold Series Eliminations on the fillies schedule this season.