WINDSOR, OCT. 26, 2001 — Natashas Kiss delivered the fastest mile in Gold Series Elimination action at Windsor Raceway on Friday night. Sent off as the favourite by Windsor fans the two-year-old trotting filly and local reinsman Kevin Wallis stopped the clock at 2:03.1.
Wallis sent the John Bax trainee straight to the front from Post 4 in the five horse field and led throughout the mile, crossing the wire one length ahead of Symphony Hanover. Cheridan Star, owned by Daniel Johnson of Wallaceburg, finished six lengths back in third.
The win was the Balanced Image filly’s first in Gold Series competition and her second of the season, improving her record to two wins, two seconds and two thirds in 10 starts. Al Libfeld of Pickering and Sam Goldband and Marvin Katz of Toronto own the daughter of the great race mare Davidia Hanover, who earned $1.1 million during her career.
The second elimination saw Smoky Sunset upset fan favourite Crown Lavec by a narrow margin. Trainer-driver Curt Bond opted for the same strategy that worked for Natashas Kiss in the first race and fired off the starting gate to the lead from Post 3. The Mr Lavec filly laid down fractions of :30, 1:01.3 and 1:32.1 and held off a charging Crown Lavec to post the 2:04 victory by a neck. Jills Gem was just one half length behind the leaders in third.
Friday’s event was Smoky Sunset’s Ontario Sires Stakes debut and just her third lifetime start. David Roswell’s 874301 Ontario Limited of Scotland bred and owns the filly, who banked $24,702 for her efforts.
With one filly scratched out of each Gold Elimination all but one of Friday’s competitors will return to Windsor Raceway on Nov. 2 for their last $100,000 Gold Final. The top four finishers from each Elimination plus one fifth-place finisher drawn by lot will take their place behind Windsor’s starting car.
Following next Friday’s event the points will be tallied and the top 10 fillies who made two starts in Gold Elimination action will head to Mohawk Racetrack for their $250,000 Super Final on Nov. 10.
Natashas Kiss delivered the fastest mile in Gold Series Elimination action at Windsor Raceway on Friday night
Friday’s event kicked off a busy weekend of Ontario Sires Stakes racing at Windsor Raceway. On Saturday the two-year-old pacing colts battle in one Gold Elimination and the top two-year-old trotters and pacers in the province duke it out in Grassroots Semifinal action.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT SANDRA SNYDER AT 519-656-2017 (TEL./FAX) OR smsnyder@sentex.net.