CAMPBELLVILLE, ON — Mohawk Racetrack fans were treated to another outstanding battle between top two-year-old pacing fillies The Patriot and Northern Harmony in their last Gold Final event on Thursday evening.
Sent off as the favourite from Post 6, Northern Harmony and driver Randy Waples wasted no time moving to the front of the eight horse field and proceeded to ring up snappy fractions of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:24.4.
From Post 1 The Patriot and Steve Condren landed in third spot on the rail behind Northern Harmony and Tribute To Heroes and were content to watch their arch-rival lay down record setting fractions until the three-quarter pole where Condren tipped the Albert Albert filly to the outside and locked his sights on the leader.
Heading around the final turn The Patriot wrestled the lead away from Northern Harmony and powered up the stretch to a three-quarter length triumph in 1:53.4, equalling the Ontario Sires Stakes record set by Cupcakesnwhipcream at Woodbine Racetrack in 2000.
“I didn’t want to leave too hard with the wind. When I moved her she felt good,” said Condren after the race. “She showed her grit last week so I knew she’d give it her best. She was grittier than the other filly tonight.”
Condren drove The Patriot to victory for owners Glengate Farms of Campbellville and Suvretta Stables of Toronto. Campbellville resident John Kopas conditions the gifted pacer, who boasts a resume of six wins, five seconds and two thirds in 16 starts, with earnings of $458,478.
The Patriot and Northern Harmony so dominated the freshman pacing filly division they finished the season 56 points apart in the Super Final point race, but 179 points ahead of third ranked filly Please Me Please. Northern Harmony captured three Gold Finals and The Patriot picked up trophies from the other two.
With their regular season complete the fillies now have 11 days to prepare for the Nov. 16 Super Final at Mohawk Racetrack, worth a cool $300,000. While the top 10 point earners from the regular season will vie for post season riches, after Thursday night’s drama, Campbellville and area fans are eagerly awaiting a rematch between the division’s crown princesses.