Freshmen Fillies Impress At Mohawk
Two-year-old pacing fillies clashed in a trio of OSS Gold Series eliminations at Mohawk Racetrack on Monday evening, with the top three finishers and one fourth-place finisher advancing to next Monday’s big dance.
Class Of O Nine toted a 2-for-2 record into the first elimination for the duo of driver Randy Waples and trainer Bob McIntosh, and the homebred daughter of Camluck-Skippin School held on for a narrow score in 1:55.4. Fresh off her triumph in the first Gold Series Final of the season at Flamboro Downs, Class Of O Nine brushed to the top at the half and held on to win by three-quarters of a length over Classy Lane Rose, who was sent off at 115-1. Jeremes Sweetheart rounded out the top three.
Robert McIntosh Stables Inc of Windsor and Dwight Stacey of Mitchell, ON share ownership on the undefeated youngster, who upped her lifetime earnings to $105,000 with the win.
YS Gold Star was a well-meant winner in the second elimination for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Daniel Martin, who watched the daughter of Armbro Deuce-Kikin Up Dirt prevail in 1:55. Sent off as the 7-5 choice, she got away third and then brushed to the top at the mid-way point before drawing away to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Apogee Hanover. Legal Entity came on late to finish third.
The victory was the filly’s third win from just four starts, and the lion’s share of the purse bumped her earnings to $58,900 for owner Yves Sarrazin of La Presentation, QC. She was purchased for a mere $13,000 from last year’s Lexington Select Yearling Sale.
Your Beautiful came through with a 6-1 upset in the third elimination, and in doing so she’s now undefeated in the first two starts of her career for driver Stuart Sowerby and trainer Stephen Gillard. The homebred daughter of Your Nemesis-Beautiful Girl sat a pocket trip behind Fine Art Mindale through fractions of :28.3, :57.2 and 1:26.1 before using a :28.2 closing panel of her own to surge to a two-length score in 1:55 over Sauble Claire. Katys Jet rounded out the top three finishers.
Stephen and Marilyn Gillard of Tavistock, ON bred and own Your Beautiful, who will look to add to her $32,000 bankroll next Monday when the big money is on the line.
Here’s how the field will line up behind the starting gate for next Monday’s final:
$130,000 OSS Gold Series Final
1. Sauble Claire
2. Palm Patrol
3. Class Of O Nine
4. Jeremes Sweetheart
5. Apogee Hanover
6. Your Beautiful
7. Classy Lane Rose
8. YS Gold Star
9. Legal Entity
10. Katys Jet