Saundra In A Golden Shocker
Three-year-old trotting fillies started their Ontario Sires Stakes Gold season on Monday, June 6 at
Saundra, making her OSS debut for trainer Benoit Baillargeon, went off at 19-1 from post seven and won the $157,200 division by a length over 2-5 favourite Adare Castle.
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Sylvain Filion piloted Saundra into third position as they entered the first turn and trailed an opening panel of :27.3 set by Hang On Baby, with
“Sylvain got away third and he wasn’t going to give cover to
Through three-quarters of a mile, Saundra led by a length.
Saundra is out of World Class Image, who produced R First Class, a trotting gelding who won the OSS Super Final as a three-year-old in 2017. Baillargeon trained R First Class and World Class Izzy, an OSS Grassroots winner from the same family.
“Mr. Rankin told me last year that she was a nice mare, said Baillargeon. “They all have speed, but she has smarts on top of it.”
This was the first
Shane Weber conditioned her last year for Rankin and he qualified the filly to start her three-year-old campaign before transitioning her to Baillargeon’s barn.
“That’s the relationship I have with Mr. Rankin,” said Baillargeon. “The boys on the farm start them off, then they come to me. This mare is a very naturally gaited trotter. Shane did a good job with her.”
The $78,600 for first place pushed Saundra over $136,000 in career earnings.
“She’s a good mare,” said Baillargeon. “There’s another girl in town now.”
Wheeling N Dealin filly
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results –
(Ontario Racing)