Shacked Up turned in an ultra-impressive first-over effort for driver Steve Condren to remain perfect and capture Friday’s second of two $40,000 OSS Gold Eliminations for freshmen pacing fillies at Mohawk Racetrack.

When the gates opened, Wild West Angel (Paul MacDonell) went to the front, but she yielded to St Lads Popcorn (Jason Brewer) in :28.1, who brought a five-race win streak into tonight’s contest. Her lead, however, lasted only a few strides as Terroronthebeach (Mark MacDonald) drove up on the outside and took charge in :56.3.

While this was developing on the front, Shacked Up sat patiently in fourth for Condren and began first-over as the field made its way into the final bend. Terroronthebeach held a short lead at the 1:25.3 three-quarters, but she was about to be overtaken by Shacked Up, who was in full stride for Condren and absolutely exploded.

Shacked Up was on cruise control from there as Condren had her all wrapped up in a career best 1:52.4. St Lads Popcorn was four and three-quarter lengths back in second, while Shellace (Randy Waples), Icey Breeze (Rick Zeron) and Allison Wonderpan (Jody Jamieson) completed the top five.

“She is getting stronger every week and I can’t say enough about what kind of job Nifty has done with her. He told me from the get-go how to race her and it is working for him, and for me too,” said Condren. “She is progressing really well. I think she has gained weight. The way she has been learning, she can do it either way – a really talented filly. She is definitely a nice filly and ranks with some of the nicer fillies I’ve driven.”

Bulletproof Enterprises owns the Western Terror – Sapphire Dawn filly, who is trained by Richard “Nifty” Norman and improved to three-for-three lifetime, banking $38,000.

In the first elimination, Briar Goes West was last at the quarter, but first when it counted for driver Jack Moiseyev. The Western Terror – Brian Classic filly was a little sluggish off the gate, sitting almost 15 lengths back at the :26.3 quarter. Northern Duchess (Mike Saftic) took command from Cheap Motel (Sylvain Filion) at the three-eighths and set the next two panels in :55.1 and 1:24.1.

Briar Goes West slipped into the outside flow and followed cover from fourth-over around the final turn. In the final eighth, the fillies fanned out five-wide. Brian Goes West emerged from the pack and hit the wire first, scoring by a head over Arts Star (Mark MacDonald) in a lifetime best 1:54.1.

“She’s a little funny sometimes off the gate, but they were going plenty fast so she liked it back there. I thought in the last turn I had a good shot,” said Moiseyev. “You know how young fillies are just learning how to race, she swelled up, let go and took off when it counted off. I think she might be a good filly because she knows where the wire is.”

Fashion Week (Paul MacDonell) recovered from an early break to just miss in third while Topaz Seelster (Luc Ouellette) and Rose Seelster (Mario Baillargeon) also advanced to the final.

Mark Austin conditions Briar Goes West for owner/breeder Michael Cecile. The filly, who was making her OSS debut, is 2-1-1 in six lifetime starts with earnings of $31,956.

Next Friday’s $120,000 Gold Final:

1. Shacked Up
2. Rose Seelster
3. Briar Goes West
4. St Lads Popcorn
5. Arts Star
6. Alison Wonderpan
7. Fashion Week
8. Icey Breeze
9. Topaz Seelster
10. Shellace

To view Mohawk’s results, click here.