CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Pure Ivory picked up her eighth win of the season in the first of two $48,508 Gold Eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack on Thursday evening.

The Striking Sahbra daughter and driver Steve Condren took control of the race just past the :29 opening quarter and proceeded through a stately :58.1 half and 1:28.2 three-quarters before sprinting home to the 1:56.1 victory.

Early leader Oaklea Odessa finished two and one-quarter lengths behind Pure Ivory and a whisker in front of Birminghim to claim second. Birminghim settled for third, Exquisite Way was five and one-quarter lengths back in fourth and Bernice Daniece was four more lengths back in fifth.

Milton resident Condren shares ownership on Pure Ivory with Jerry Vanboekel of Bright, Harry Rutherford of Mount Pleasant and Christina Maxwell of Cambridge. Brad Maxwell trains the talented daughter of Striking Sahbra and former Ontario Sires Stakes star Image Control.

Through 14 starts this season Pure Ivory has recorded eight wins and three thirds, banking $460,363 along the way. Her personal best 1:53.1 came in the Sept. 7 Simcoe Stake and established a track and stakes record at Mohawk Racetrack.

Thursday’s win bounced Pure Ivory back to the top of the three-year-old trotting filly division point standings and she will be looking to maintain her top spot from Post 9 in next week’s $130,000 Gold Final.

The second Gold Elimination saw Oaklea Omega and driver Paul MacDonell storm away from the starting gate to a :27.2 opening quarter and then maintain their lead through a :58.1 half and 1:26.3 three-quarters en route to a 1:55.1 victory. Fan favourites Porsche Hall and trainer-driver Terry Kerr watched Oaklea Omega’s performance from the pocket and rolled across the wire in second, three and three-quarter lengths back, while third-place finisher Spare Time Rozie was 11 lengths behind the winner. Fourth and fifth-place finishers Emmamazing and Corries Glory also advanced to next week’s final.

Owned by trainer John Bax’s Peterborough-based Parkhill Stud Farm, Brilo Farms of Sharon, Glenn Van Camp of Port Perry and Venture K Stable of Little Britain, Oaklea Omega has captured five of 18 starts this season, finishing second three times and third once. Thursday’s visit was her second to a Gold Elimination winner’s circle this season; she also claimed elimination hardware at Western Fair Raceway on June 23.

Currently in a tie for third in the division standings with her stablemate Oaklea Odessa, Oaklea Omega will try and boost her point total from Post 5 in next week’s Gold Final, which will wrap up the fillies regular season. The top 10 point earners from the regular season will then make a trip to Woodbine Racetrack on Oct. 14 to compete in their $300,000 Super Final.

The complete line up for next Thursday’s $130,000 Gold Final is as follows:

Post 1 Spare Time Rozie

Post 2 Bernice Daniece

Post 3 Oaklea Odessa

Post 4 Porsche Hall

Post 5 Oaklea Omega

Post 6 Exquisite Way

Post 7 Birminghim

Post 8 Corries Glory

Post 9 Pure Ivory

Post 10 Emmamazing

AE1 Fin De Maye

AE2 Meadowview Tiffy

For complete results please go to:

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