DUNDAS, ON — Zorgwijk Emani romped to an impressive 10 and three-quarter length victory in Wednesday afternoon’s two-year-old trotting filly Gold Eliminations at Flamboro Downs, stopping the clock in a smart 2:01.2.
With Hall of Fame horseman William “Bud” Fritz in the race bike for the first time since a June 14 qualifier, Zorgwijk Emani stalked pacesetter Zorgwijk Empress through fractions of :29.3 and 1:01 before stepping up to take command. The Valleymeister daughter trotted to a 1:31.1 three-quarters and then started to widen her lead, reaching the finish line more than 10 lengths ahead of runner-up Zorgwijk Empress and more than 12 lengths up on third-place finisher Shez Mine.
James Dennie trains the talented young trotter for Rob Dennie of Walkerton. A $3,700 bargain at last fall’s Northern Standardbred Yearling Sale, Zorgwijk Emani has earned $49,177 through four starts, including a Grassroots win in her July 12 debut, a Gold Elimination triumph at Elmira Raceway on July 28 and a fourth-place finish in the Aug. 4 Gold Final. The mile shaved almost three seconds off the filly’s personal best.
In other Gold Elimination action Trevor and Ross Henry paired up for a pair of wins. Trevor Henry kicked the action-packed afternoon off, piloting long shot Chelemark Spring to a 2:02.2 victory in the second race.
The Super Pleasure daughter sat patiently behind pacesetter P C Dreams and when favourite Meadowview Marion could not find her way to the front at the three-quarter pole, Henry started to rev his filly up. Heading down the stretch Chelemark Spring kicked into high gear and left P C Dreams and reigning Gold Final champion Meadowview Marion gasping in her dust, hitting the wire two and one-quarter lengths on top.
The Henry Stable of Arthur owns Chelemark Spring, another bargain at $8,000 at the Canadian Classic Yearling Sale. In five starts the filly has two Gold Elimination wins and a third in Trillium Series action to her credit for earnings of $32,028.
The Henry’s also wrapped up the Ontario Sires Stakes talent show, capturing the final elimination with Fiesty Kindof Luv. The only favourite to deliver the goods on Wednesday, Fiesty Kindof Luv shot to the front from Post 2 and never glanced back, sailing to a five length victory in 2:02.3.
A homebred daughter of Fiesty G G, Fiesty Kindof Luv has been near perfect this season, capturing her Grassroots debut on July 12, her Gold Elimination on July 28 and finishing just a nose out of top spot in the Aug. 4 Gold Final. Also owned by the Henry Stable, the petite trotter bumped her earnings to $71,277 with Wednesday’s win over Icy Pleasure and Ima Sweetie Too.
The other elimination went to Flirting Lavec, who circled the half-mile oval in 2:01.4 with a front-end performance. Trevor Ritchie piloted the Mr Lavec daughter for owner and trainer Stephen Bossence of London. Favourite Incredible Mother was second and Cassatt rounded out the top three in the $28,684 elimination.
The top two finishers from each elimination will return to Flamboro Downs next Wednesday, Aug. 27 for their third $130,000 Gold Final.