WINDSOR, ON — Peaceful Way stepped off an impressive victory at Windsor Raceway on Sunday evening, capturing her Gold Series Elimination in 1:58.1.
Making her first start in the Ontario Sires Stakes program Peaceful Way and regular driver Chris Christoforou landed in the middle of the two-year-old trotting filly field from Post 8 and were content to watch Miss Michelle H lay down fractions of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:28.2. Heading past the three-quarter pole Christoforou sent the Angus Hall daughter three-wide around the faltering Flirting Lavec and was on top by three-quarters of a length at the top of the stretch.
By the time she reached the wire Peaceful Way had extended her lead to three and a half lengths, with Miss Michelle H staying game for second and Hetties Charm eight lengths back in third.
The win was Peaceful Way’s third straight, coming hot on the heels of victories in the elimination and final of the Oakville Stakes at Mohawk Racetrack. In her only other start the talented young trotter was third in a division of the Champlain Stakes at Mohawk and she has already banked $316,656 for trainer David Tingley of Guelph and his partners Angie Stiller of Arva, Barbara Myers of Holland, PA and Joseph Myers of Jamesville, VA.
Meadowview Marion moved to the top of the division standings with a 2:02.2 victory in the second Gold Elimination. The Incredible Abe miss and veteran reinsman Dave Wall stalked pacesetter Yankee Dakota through fractions of :28.2, 1:01 and 1:31.4 before sneaking out in the stretch to post the three-quarter length victory. Yankee Dakota battled hard for second-place and McCall Magic overcame an early miscue to pick up the third-place finisher’s share of the $36,412 purse.
Trainer Paul Shakes of Stayner and breeder Charles Reid’s Meadowview Farms Inc. of Orono share ownership on Meadowview Marion, who has been a consistent player in the Gold Series ranks all season, capturing the Aug. 4 Gold Final at Elmira Raceway. Sunday’s victory bumps the filly into top spot in the Super Final point race with a total of 149 points earned through two wins, one second and one third in Gold Series action.
The other elimination also went to a first time Gold starter, Spring Audit, who waltzed to a wire-to-wire victory from Post 6. Another daughter of Angus Hall, Spring Audit tripped the Windsor teletimer at 2:00.4 to score the first victory of her career. Larry Walker trains the filly for Gresta Limited of Hanover and Keith Oliver handled the lines in the flawless victory over Sno Doubt About It and Dance To Market.
The top three finishers from each elimination will return to Windsor Raceway on Sunday, Sept. 28 for the second last $130,000 Gold Final on their 2003 schedule.