One night after hosting the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots season opener for the two-year-old trotting fillies, Georgian Downs rolled out the red carpet for their Gold level peers, who stepped up the tempo as they battled for a total of $200,000 in three divisions.

HP Titania Runner captured the first Gold Series victory of the freshman trotting filly season with a 1:58.3 effort that saw her get away mid-pack from post seven and then power up the outer lane to catch pacesetter Angies Luckeylady. Accelerating down the stretch, HP Titania Runner opened up a five and one-quarter length lead over fan favourite Angies Luckeylady and Warrawee Ultra.

Louis Philippe Roy piloted the E L Titan daughter to the win for trainer Rene Bourassa of Fergus, Ont., and owners/breeders Claude Hamel of Ayer’s Cliff and Michel Damphousse of Louiseville, Que.

Three races later, Roy was back in the Ontario Sires Stakes winner’s circle after guiding Cambridge Kate to a 1:58.3 score.

Starting from post six, Roy eased the Royalty For Life filly away from the gate and settled her in seventh as fan favourite Shesa Sweetheart led the field to a :28.4 quarter and a :58.4 half. Heading for the 1:28.3 three-quarters, Roy sent Cambridge Kate into the outer lane and turning for home the filly rolled out around the two horses in front of her and stormed to a one and three-quarter length victory. Champagne Jane and Witches N Angels also reeled in Shesa Sweetheart to earn second and third-place honours.

“I think she’s got lots of speed,” said trainer Carl Jamieson, referring to Cambridge Kate. “She can leave too, I mean, he didn’t leave there at all tonight and I was a little worried when he got away next-to-last but she really closed excellent.”

Rockwood, Ont. resident Jamieson conditions Cambridge Kate for his partners Glengate K Farms of Erin, Ont., and Dr. Robert Boyce of London, Ont. The partners acquired the filly from the 2017 London Selected Yearling Sale for $44,000 and she has banked $35,280 with a win and a third in her first two starts.

“She’s been good all along. Since the day we broke her she’s had no problems whatsoever,” noted Jamieson. “Anybody could train her all winter, like going sets, she didn’t make breaks or nothing, she’s always trotted good.”

Trainer John Rier felt the same way about Giving It All through the winter and the filly rewarded his confidence with a 2:00.2 victory in the last $66,400 division.

Starting from post five, Giving It All and driver Mike Saftic took command early and trotted through fractions of :29.4, 1:01 and 1:30.4 before battling down the stretch to a three-quarter length victory over fan favourite Petro Hall and Pyrrha.

“She raced good, she’s a very good gaited filly,” said Campbellville, Ont. resident Saftic. “The track’s a little deep there, a lot of the other fillies were having a hard time, but she was good. We got her good fractions and she gutted it out down the lane.”

Kitchener, Ont. resident Rier shares ownership of Giving It All with his brother Randy Rier of Hanover, Ont. The brothers offered up $12,000 for the Angus Hall daughter at last fall’s London Selected Yearling Sale and have recouped $36,700 with one win and one second through the filly’s first three starts.

“I don’t know how fast she’ll end up being, but she’s got that nice gait, and she’s got gate speed, and she moves real nice,” noted Saftic, who has driven the filly in all of her races and qualifiers. “We’ll see down the road, but we’ll take that one.”

Giving It All, Cambridge Kate, HP Titania Runner and their peers will make their second Gold Series start on July 27 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

The Ontario Sires Stakes spotlight remains on Georgian Downs this week as the Innisfil oval hosts the Grassroots season opener for the two-year-old trotting colts and geldings on Tuesday, July 17. The colts and geldings will compete for a total of $55,700 in Races 2, 5 and 8. The evening’s first race rolls in behind the starting car at 7:15 p.m.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.

(With files from OSS)