DUNDAS, ON — On a night of upsets by the two-year-old trotting fillies, Mikestory was the only favourite to deliver a Gold Elimination win to her Flamboro Downs fans.
The Eager Seelster daughter and William Megens fired to the front from Post 7 and finished the remainder of the 2:03.3 mile all alone, crossing the wire four and a quarter lengths ahead of long shot Wescott and Behind The Smile.
Troy resident Megens bred, owns and trains the gifted filly, who also boasts a runner-up finish in a Trillium Series event at Sudbury Downs on June 29. The duo returned $4.30 to win, $2.90 to place and $3.00 to show to their hometown backers.
Jar Jar Binx and driver Ray McLean, Jr. scored the quickest win of the three Gold Elimination divisions, hitting the finish line in 2:03.1. Sent off as the longest shot on the board in the second race, Jar Jar Binx returned $43.40, $16.20 and $4.80 to fans who selected number 5 on their ticket.
Jilted, owned by Joseph Byk and Pattricia Tanner of Burlington, trainer Kevin Blanchard of London and Derek Dahlberg of Arva, finished second for a $6.90 place pay out and a $4.00 show return. Favourite Wanabeamillionaire, owned by Ancaster’s Robert Waxman, picked up the third-place finisher’s share of the $31,403 purse.
Wayne Bloomfield trains Jar Jar Binx for owner-breeder Karen Carroll of Shedden. The Brisco Herbert daughter did not make the trip to Sudbury for the Trillium, getting in a practice round at Flamboro on June 22 instead.
The final division went to long shot Independent Woman who led from wire-to-wire, holding off a late charge from runner-up Psychic Image and forcing favourite Nomireatras to settle for third. Owned by trainer Ross Henry of Arthur, Independent Woman’s victory was worth $32.70 to win, $10.50 to place and $2.90 to show.
The top three finishers from each Gold Elimination will return to Flamboro Downs on Saturday, July 13 for their first $130,000 Gold Final.