Bay Girl will be looking to defend her Gold Final title on Thursday afternoon, when Ontario's top two-year-old pacing fillies return to Flamboro Downs for the third $130,000 showdown on their schedule
this season.
The Royal Mattjesty daughter will make a bid for her second title from Post 5 in the tenth race, and trainer Ben Wallace says the filly is in fighting trim.
"She's fit, she's tight," says the Milton resident. "She's not one that needs a lot of work. She has a good foundation into her; it's just a matter of maintaining her.
"Her desire is certainly her best attribute; she wants to beat horses," he adds.
Wallace deflects credit for Bay Girl's freshman success, saying she arrived in his barn ready to compete. Owners Michael, Sam and Pat Sergi of Canton, NY broke the filly and logged all her early miles before handing her off to Wallace.
"I've never had one drop into my barn and reap more rewards as quickly as she has," notes Wallace. "I credit Sam and Mike Sergi, they broke her and got her going."
Sam Sergi qualified the seventh foal of 100 per cent producer Whitley Bay at Vernon Downs on July 10, and Bay Girl laid down a 1:59 mile with a sparkling :27.2 final quarter. Sergi then entered the filly in the Grassroots season opener at Kawartha Downs on July 18 and watched Doug Brown steer her to a runner-up finish in the 1:57.1 mile. Sergi maintained his status as trainer through a July 27 overnight at Mohawk Racetrack where the filly finished third in 1:57, then handed her over to Wallace.
Making her Gold Series debut at Mohawk Racetrack on Aug. 10, Bay Girl circled the field with an impressive :27.2 kick to claim a head victory in 1:53.4, then came back the next week to capture the Gold Final in 1:52.2. On Sept. 11 the gifted youngster finished second from Post 9 in a division of the Champlain Stakes, and then delivered a gate to wire score in last Thursday's Gold Elimination, halting the Flamboro Downs teletimer at 1:56.2.
Milton resident Mario Baillargeon has piloted the filly in her last four starts, and Wallace points out that the reinsman was instrumental in bringing Bay Girl into his barn.
"Mario was the connection to put us together. I have to give him credit for that," says Wallace. "It's worked out good."
Baillargeon shares ownership with the Sergi family on Bay Girl's elder brother Bay Of Sharks, who has banked $207,250 through his racing career, largely under Wallace's tutelage. The Cams Card Shark colt was a $5,000 yearling purchase and Bay Girl was hammered down for just $7,000, giving the Sergi's a tidy return on their initial investment.
"They purchased those two horses for $12,000 and they are closing in on $400,000," says Wallace. "They've been very fortunate."
With her flawless record in Gold Series action, Bay Girl sits atop the two-year-old pacing filly standings with a total of 150 points, and Wallace is concentrating on having her in peak form for the Nov. 14 Super Final.
"She was locally staked, but there is lots of money left on the table," notes the horseman. "We are heading for the Super Final. That's where we'd like to have her fresh."
Bay Girl and Baillargeon face a tough field on Thursday, with the other elimination winner, FBs Terror, starting from Post 3 in their $130,000 skirmish. The Gold Final goes postward as Race 10 on the matinee program, with the first race rolling in behind the Flamboro Downs starting gate at 1 p.m.
(OSS)
To view Thursday’s harness racing entries, click here.