DUNDAS, ON — Flamboro Downs opens its doors to the two-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon, hosting three Gold Series Eliminations for the precocious youngsters.
Several of the starters will be making their second provincial start, having competed in a Trillium Series event at Sudbury Downs on June 29. At this early stage in their careers the fillies who made the trek north may have an edge over those heading into Saturday’s event straight out of a qualifier and Jilted’s connections are hoping their filly’s fourth-place finish will stand her in good stead.
“She’s smart, that’s what Dave Wall said about her, and so far she behaves herself and that’s the important thing with two-year-olds,” says Pattricia Tanner of Burlington, who shares ownership on Jilted with Joseph Byk of Burlington, trainer Kevin Blanchard of London and Derek Dahlberg of Arva. “We’re going to try her in the Gold on Saturday and if she doesn’t do good, then we’ll got to the Grass Roots. We’re not going to rush her.”
Tanner and her partners selected the Super Pleasure filly out of last fall’s Royal Blue Yearling Sale for $6,000 and have already recovered a third of that with her Trillium Series effort. Jilted will attempt to add to pay off the remainder of her purchase price from Post 3 in the second race on Saturday and veteran reinsman Dave Wall will be in the race bike for the $31,403 elimination.
“We like Dave’s driving, he’s good with trotters. We’re glad he’s back,” says Tanner, referring to Wall’s return to driving after a serious accident earlier this year had doctors predicting he would never again set foot on a racetrack.
“She has a mind of her own. She’s a true girl, she doesn’t like to be pushed around,” continues Tanner with a chuckle. “But even with her funny little attitude everybody likes her.”
Wall and Jilted will face off against a field of six freshman trotters in Race 2, including some high price talent in the shape of Wanabeamillionaire.
Robert Waxman of Ancaster acquired Wanabeamillionaire for $87,000 out of the Forest City Yearling Sale last October. She heads into Saturday’s contest off a June 19 qualifier at Windsor Raceway and, in an attempt to give the Mr Lavec daughter some race experience before the first Gold event, trainer Bob McIntosh sent her to the post against older horses at Flamboro Downs on June 27. The full sister to last year’s OSS two-year-old filly champion Pepi Lavec finished sixth in a respectable 2:04.3 clocking.
Two of the other fillies in Race 2 have already made their pari-mutuel debut, while three head to Flamboro Downs from pre-season qualifying action.
The other Gold Eliminations are slated as Races 6 and 10 on Flamboro Downs Saturday afternoon program, which gets under way at 3 pm. The top three finishers from each elimination will return to the Dundas oval on July 13 for their first $130,000 Gold Final.