CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Serious Comfort and Roger Mayotte executed their pre-race strategy perfectly to record an Ontario Sires Stakes record in the two-year-old pacing filly Gold Final at Mohawk Racetrack Saturday evening.
“Me and Roy (Jeffries) talked it over before the race and we thought following Doug (Brown) would be a better idea than him following me,” said Mayotte after the victory. “I knew that he would take me right to the wire, which he did, and my filly likes to stalk off a helmet and she brushed by him really nice.”
Leaving from Post 3 Mayotte settled Serious Comfort in seventh spot, right behind Elimination winner Invitro and Doug Brown. When Brown sent Invitro up the outside heading to the three-quarter pole, Mayotte followed suit and by the top of the stretch the two fillies were sitting second and fourth. Down the stretch the duo pulled away from the field and when Mayotte asked Serious Comfort for one final burst of speed the Precious Bunny daughter powered to the half length victory in 1:52.3. Favourite Invitro settled for second and Taylor Lynne was two and three-quarter lengths back in third.
The win took over one second off the former Ontario Sires Stakes record of 1:53.4 set by Cupcakesnwhipcream in 2000 and equalled by The Patriot last season, and was just one-fifth of a second off the 1:52.2 Mohawk track record owned by Remember When.
Trained by Roy Jeffries for owner-breeder Millar Farms of Newmarket, Serious Comfort boosted her record to five wins, one second and one third in seven starts for earnings of $249,282 and fourth spot in the division point race.
Two races later the freshman trotting fillies went to battle and Elimination winner Ifhallscouldtalk delivered a very impressive come-from-behind victory that saw her hit the wire five and one-quarter lengths ahead of the field in a personal best 1:58.
With Chris Christoforou in the race bike for trainer Rene Laarman and owner Melvin Hartman of Ottawa, the Angus Hall daughter eased off the gate and then sat on the outside as pacesetters Miss Michelle H and Spring Audit clocked initial fractions of :27.2 and :56.2. Heading for the 1:27.1 three-quarters Christoforou sent Ifhallscouldtalk three-wide around stalling favourite Flirting Lavec and took aim on the leaders. The filly responded with an impressive finishing kick that propelled her to the easy victory over Crimmings and Miss Michelle H.
“I was hoping for a little speed in front of me going to the half and it worked out that way. I was in a good spot, but I was a little worried about the cover and how soon I would have to tip three-wide with her. She was strong enough tonight; she just got home great,” said Christoforou. “It was the first time that I had ever driven her and she is just a wonderful filly.
“I’m really happy for Mr. Hartman; he puts a lot of money into this business and is a real gentleman. Rene is a great guy; I’ve been driving for him for years, so it really makes me happy to win for people that I have had connections with in the past.”
The win was Ifhallscouldtalk’s second straight and clearly indicates a return to the early season form that saw her capture her first two starts. Through 10 outings the filly has posted four wins, one second and earnings of $135,318. She finishes the Gold Series regular season in second spot in the Super Final point race, just two points behind leader Meadowview Marion.
The top 10 point earners from both the pacing filly and trotting filly divisions will return to Mohawk Racetrack next Saturday, Nov. 8 for their $300,000 Super Finals, part of the $2.4 million Super Final Championship night at the Campbellville oval.