LONDON, ON — Elimination winners Taylor Lynne and A And Gs Rockette delivered a thrilling finish in Friday evening’s $130,000 Gold Final at Western Fair Raceway.
Fan favourite A And Gs Rockette and legendary driver Mike Lachance hustled off the gate into the first turn and led the group of three-year-old pacing fillies through fractions of :28.1 and :59 before facing any pressure. Heading for the 1:27.2 three-quarters Roger Mayotte sent last year’s Ontario Sires Stakes champion Serious Comfort after the lead, but A And Gs Rockette stayed game and was still on top by one and a quarter lengths as the fillies turned for home.
Sitting comfortably behind the leader Jody Jamieson was simply biding his time and when he fired Taylor Lynne out of the pocket in the stretch the Fit For Life daughter responded with an impressive finishing kick that propelled her to the quarter length victory in 1:56.3.
A And Gs Rockette settled for second while Rafaella Seelster, the longest shot in the eight horse field, sprinted down the stretch to snatch third-place away from Serious Comfort.
The win was Taylor Lynne’s second of the season and boosted her lifetime earnings to $438,999. Trainer Carl Jamieson of Princeton, Jerry Jamieson of Blenheim, Gerald Rattray of Hamilton and Arthur Slack of Cumbria, England share ownership on the talented filly, who captured three Gold Eliminations and one Gold Final during her freshman campaign.
Taylor Lynne’s fans earned $9.20, $3.90 and $3.00 as a result of her efforts, while A And Gs Rockette returned $3.20 to place and $2.40 to show and long shot Rafaella Seelster paid $9.70 to show. The exactor returned $18.40 and adding Rafaella Seelster to a triactor ticket netted fans $399.80.
The talented fillies warmed up the Western Fair crowd for the $275,000 Molson Canadian Pace which saw Four Starzzz Shark and Mike Lachance coast to a five and one quarter length victory in a track record 1:53.
The sophomore pacing fillies make their next Gold Series start on June 14 at Woodbine Racetrack, while Ontario Sires Stakes action does not return to Western Fair Raceway until Oct. 16.