TORONTO, ON — There were few surprises at Woodbine Racetrack on Thursday evening, as the favourites in both two-year-old trotting filly Gold Eliminations sailed home to effortless victories.
The first $40,000 elimination saw Miss Paris and driver Scott Zeron sit briefly on the rail in third before making a move to the front. The Kadabra daughter wrestled control from Frisky Strike just past the :58.4 half and was enjoying a two length lead by the 1:29 three-quarters. From there Miss Paris coasted down the Woodbine stretch to a two and three-quarter length victory in 1:57.3.
Racing Dreams closed sharply to land the runner-up spot, with Frisky Strike rounding out the top three for owners Mardon Stables of Loretto, ON, Ray Schnittker of Middletown NY, and Jeffrey Gural of New York, NY. Fourth-place finisher Twin B Sensation, owned by Glengate Farms of Campbellville, Parkhill Stud Farm of Peterborough and Gaelic Stable of Sharon, and fifth-placed Phoenix Goal also advanced to next Thursday’s Gold Final.
The win was the third straight for Miss Paris, who made her Gold Series debut with a win in the Sept. 22 eliminations at Rideau Carleton Raceway. The reigning Gold Final champion spent her early season butting heads with the top fillies on the continent and has now recorded five wins, two seconds and one third through 10 starts for earnings of $221,437.
Richard “Nifty” Norman conditions the daughter of Kadabra and Pizza Dolce for Mel Hartman of Ottawa, ON, Herb Liverman of Miami Beach, FL and David McDuffee of Delray Beach, FL, who offered up $210,000 to acquire the full-sister of $753,133 winner Bella Dolce from last fall’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale. The filly will attempt to extend her win streak to four from Post 7 in next week’s $130,000 Gold Final.
The second elimination saw driver Jacques Hebert employ nearly identical tactics to land Circles in the winner’s circle. The pair sat second through the opening quarter, rolled by early leader Counter Pointe heading for the half, and cruised home one and one-quarter length victors in 1:57.
Former Gold Final winner Counter Pointe trotted into second, with Cool Creek Breeze rounding out the top three. Radical Dreamer and Justasmalltowngirl completed the field for next week’s final.
Racing exclusively in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, Circles has tallied six wins and three seconds in nine starts for a total of $262,500 in earnings. Woodlawn, ON resident John Smith bred, owns and trains the daughter of Majestic Son and his prolific broodmare Merles Image, and will send her after a second Gold Final trophy from Post 1 next Thursday.
The complete line up for the last Gold Final on the freshman trotting filly schedule is as follows:
$130,000 Gold Series Final — Thursday, Oct. 13 at Woodbine Racetrack
Post 1 Circles
Post 2 Racing Dreams
Post 3 Frisky Strike
Post 4 Counter Pointe
Post 5 Cool Creek Breeze
Post 6 Justasmalltowngirl
Post 7 Miss Paris
Post 8 Radical Dreamer
Post 9 Twin B Sensation
Post 10 Phoenix Goal
For complete results please go to: Woodbine Racetrack Results — Oct. 6, 2011