Freshman pacing filly Monkey On My Wheel proved that last week’s Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Final victory was no accident when she captured her $40,000 Gold elimination at Kawartha Downs on Saturday evening

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Robert Shepherd picked up the drive aboard Monkey On My Wheel and made a sharper move off the starting gate than Ontario Sires Stakes fans had seen in her first two Gold Series appearances. From Post 1 the pair settled into third spot, tucked behind early pacesetter Imagine Semalu (Steve Condren) and Mach Lady (Gord Brown).

Through the :29.4 opening quarter clocked by Imagine Semalu, Shepherd let Monkey On My Wheel coast along in third, but when Mach Lady stepped to the outside heading for the :59.4 half, the fan favourite rolled out behind her. Monkey On My Wheel cleared to the front just past the 1:28 three-quarters, sailed effortlessly into the stretch and then held off a late charge from Tanned For Life (Jack Moiseyev) to secure the half length victory in 1:56.

Tanned For Life laid down the fastest last quarter of the two eliminations, stepping home in :27.1, to grab the runner-up spot, and early pacesetter Image Semalu was two more lengths back in third. Fourth-place finisher Ultimate Hope (James MacDonald) also earned a berth in next Saturday’s $130,000 Gold Final.

The victory was the third in four starts for Mach Three daughter Monkey On My Wheel, who is owned by trainer Travis Umphrey of Guelph, Ont. and breeder Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont.. The talented filly scored her first Ontario Sires Stakes victory in the Sept. 25 Gold Final, where she sprinted from eighth to first in the Mohawk Racetrack stretch to snatch the title away from defending champion Lauren.

Kawartha Downs will be treated to a rematch between the fillies in next week’s Gold Final as Lauren got a flawless pocket steer from Steve Condren to record her third Gold elimination victory. Milton, Ont. resident Condren hustled Lauren away from Post 4 and dropped her onto the rail behind Grassroots hot shot Epoxy Queen (Brad Rae), who led the field to a snappy :27 opening quarter.

Epoxy Queen continued to flex her muscles on the front end, reaching the half in :57.3 and the three-quarters in 1:26.1, but around the final turn Lauren swung to the outside and had taken command by the time the field squared up for the stretch drive. Stonebridge Damsel (Jack Moiseyev) and Village Janus (Robert Shepherd) closed well, but the Gold elimination trophy belonged to Lauren, who paced under the wire one length on top in 1:54.3. Although she faded in the stretch, Epoxy Queen earned a spot in the Gold Final with her fourth-place result.

Hall of Fame horseman Bob McIntosh conditions Lauren for owner-breeders Gordon and Claudia Wright of Charlotte, Michigan. Through 10 starts this season, the daughter of Modern Art and One Cadet has recorded an impressive seven victories and one second-place result for earnings of $185,256. In addition to three Gold eliminations and one Gold Final, the filly also captured two legs of the Whenuwishuponastar Series at Mohawk Racetrack in July.

The top four finishers from each Gold elimination, plus one fifth-place finisher selected by random draw, will return to Kawartha Downs next Saturday, Oct. 9 for the second last $130,000 Gold Final of the two-year-old pacing filly campaign.

In other action, Kawartha Downs’ The Bride To Be Pacing Series kicked off on Saturday with two $7,000 divisions featuring fillies and mares looking to break their maidens. A pair of Bruce Goit-trained sophomores Lyons Lass and Astrmowin did just that in winning their respective assignments.

Lyons Lass ($4.70) advanced to the lead after the opening quarter and cruised to a four length victory in 1:57.1 with Fred Brethour in the driver’s seat. Pocket-sitter Lexis Mandy (Robert Shepherd) was the bridesmaid while Sandy Hook Heidi (Tim Curtis) finished third. The popular Camluck-Pacific Rockette filly, who has made just three starts in her career, was purchased for $30,000 at the Harrisburg Sale by Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, Ont.

Astrmowin ($5.80) rallied off third over cover to score by a quarter-length in 1:58 with Robert Shepherd. Favourite Sheer Sport (Kelly Sheppard) was the runner-up with pacesetter Anvil Annie (Gord Brown) settling for third. Bonnie Goit of Waterford, Ont. owns the Astreos-Waasmowin miss, who made her first career start this evening.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.

(With files from OSS)