The Richard “Nifty” Norman-trained Kadabra filly Smoke And Mirrors made front after favourite Sorceress Seelster broke into the first turn and coasted to a 1:55.3 lifetime-best victory to take the $225,000 OSS Super Final for three-year-old filly trotters at odds of 16-1.
Sorceress Seelster cleared control from Smoke And Mirrors at the rail heading into the first turn as Magical Glider tucked into third and Illusioneesta fourth. Smoke And Mirrors soon inherited the lead as Sorceress Seelster galloped into the bend before a :29.2 opening quarter. Driver Trevor Henry rationed Smoke And Mirror’s speed in the backside trotting a :58.2 half under no pressure.
Illusioneesta pulled first over from third rounding the final turn with Magical Lady second over and Superlative third over. Smoke And Mirrors held a three-length margin past the 1:27 third-quarter and maintained the lead through the stretch while Superlative surged through the center of the course to take second with Illusioneesta third and Magical Lady fourth.
“Obviously we were planning to follow [the favourite],” Norman said after the race, “but they weren’t going much, she made a break and left us on a soft lead and [she] got away with a soft middle half. She raced really good—probably her best route of the year.
“She’d been disappointing—been disappointing all year,” Norman also said. “She’s run a lot of times going for good money and let us down. But she was in a good spot tonight with the rail and I know she trained really good during the week—and she looks fantastic; doesn’t look like she’s had a long year.”
Returning $34.10 to win, Smoke And Mirrors, owned by Melvin Hartman, David Mc Duffee and Little E LLC, won her second race in 15 starts this season and her fourth in 26 overall, earning $370,219.