WINDSOR, ON — Upsets abounded in Gold Elimination action for the three-year-old pacing fillies at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening.

Two-time Gold Final winner In Trepid Water saw her eight race win streak snapped in the first $56,894 elimination, which featured a stretch duel that had every fan in the stands on their feet. Only a neck separated the top four fillies, and it was Don’t You Smile getting the nod from Windsor’s photo finish officials to earn her first Gold Series win of the season.

Don’t You Smile and In Trepid Water lined up side-by-side behind the starting gate from Posts 7 and 8 and dropped onto the rail in fourth and fifth as Even Now battled to a :26.4 opening quarter. Heading for the :56.2 half Rick Zeron sent In Trepid Water after the lead, where she had positioned herself in all eight of her victories, but Scott Coulter and Even Now maintained a lively pace through the 1:24 three-quarters and the fan favourite was unable to find her way to the top.

While In Trepid Water languished on the outside and Even Now hustled along at the front, Brad Forward sat comfortably in sixth, conserving Don’t You Smile’s energy for the stretch drive. Four and three-quarter lengths behind the leaders as they turned for home, Don’t You Smile shifted into high gear and outpaced all four fillies in front of her to claim the 1:53.1 victory.

A head behind Don’t You Smile, Draconian Promise delivered the second fastest last quarter to nudge In Trepid Water into third and Even Now was a neck back in fourth.

Carl Jamieson of Princeton trains Don’t You Smile for his partners Fred Brayford of Alliston, Thomas Kyron of Etobicoke and George Arthur Stable of Rockwood. A winner of $210,975 at two, the Grinfromeartoear daughter boasts a record of one win, one second and two thirds in eight starts this season.

Fans who put their faith in Don’t You Smile took home $117.70 to win, $40.90 to place and $13.80 to show. Draconian Promise returned $37.40 to place and $12.30 to show, while In Trepid Water paid $2.50 to show. Combining the eighth and ninth longest shots in the race on an exactor ticket netted fans $2,299, the triactor was worth a cool $12,320.80 and the superfecta delivered an eyebrow raising $29,043.45.

The lucky few who profited from Don’t You Smile’s efforts in Race 5 went home twice as happy if they liked the looks of Red Star Biggirl in the second elimination. The Grinfromeartoear daughter was making her first start on Ontario soil after spending her early season at Edmonton’s Northlands Park where she notched four wins, three seconds and two thirds in nine starts.

Allan Cullen piloted the filly for trainer Robert Merschback and owner Robert Murphy of Surrey, BC, and the Windsor regular took Red Star Biggirl straight to the front from Post 4. The pair laid down fractions of :26.2, :56.1 and 1:24.3 without ever facing a challenge and then sprinted home to an eight length victory in a personal best 1:52.1.

Zeglarska Street, Lets Talk Turkey and Fantasy Winner finished within a length of each other in second, third and fourth, while fan favourite To Helen Back encountered problems during the race and was pulled up by driver Jason Brewer.

The top four fillies from each elimination, plus one fifth-place finisher drawn by lot, will return to Windsor Raceway on Sunday, July 9 for their third $130,000 Gold Final.

For complete results please go to:

http://www.standardbredcanada.ca/results/data/rwrfsu.html