It’s now nine races and counting for JK Shesalady who kept her perfect record intact with an under wraps victory in her elimination of the Three Diamonds during Friday’s 13-race program at Woodbine Racetrack.
With Yannick Gingras at the lines, JK Shesalady got away third and held that position while Solar Sister and Happy Becky took turns on the lead through tepid fractions of :28.4 and :58.3. Gingras pulled the trigger on the Nancy Johansson trainee going into the final turn, and in a matter of strides she was to race leader Happy Becky’s bridle. They were together at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.3 before JK Shesalady used a :27-second closing panel to win by a length in 1:53.3. Solar Sister rallied to finish second, while Happy Becky settled for the show dough.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, the two-year-old daughter of Art Major-Presidential Lady bumped her lifetime earnings to $457,350 for her owner/breeder, the 3 Brothers Stable of New York.
The Show Returns turned a two-hole trip into a 1:53.1 score in the second elimination. Scott Zeron grabbed that precious piece of real estate for the Chris Ryder trainee, who stalked race favourite Band Of Angels through intervals of :27.2, :56.1 and 1:25. Zeron angled his charge to the outside turning for home and The Show Returns used a :27.4 closing quarter to win by a neck over Band Of Angels. Finishing third was Ideal Nuggets.
Fresh off an historical mile in Kentucky, Mission Brief won as she pleased in her elimination of the Goldsmith Maid for two-year-old trotting fillies. Yannick Gingras parked past the quarter in :27.3 with the Ron Burke trainee before crossing down to the rail and slicing out middle panels of :57.2 and 1:26.1. A :28.3 final quarter was more than enough for the filly to seal the deal as she cruised home to win by 1-1/4 lengths over pocket-sitting Danielle Hall in 1:54.4. Tymal Illbethere, who went off at 58-1, rallied to finish third.
Closing as the 2-5 favourite, Mission Brief improved her rookie record to seven wins from nine starts for the partnership of Burke Racing Stable LLC, Our Horse Cents Stables, J And T Silva Stables LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. The $12,500 payday lifted her lifetime loot to $327,400.
Gatka Hanover captured her elimination of the Goldsmith Maid, and she did so in front-stepping fashion for driver Yannick Gingras. He hustled the Ron Burke pupil to the lead from Post 6 and supplied splits of :27.4, :56.4 and 1:25.1 before cruising home in :30.3 for the 1:55.4 victory. Race favourite Jolene Jolene was 4-1/2 lengths back in second, with Juanitas Fury rounding out the top three finishers in the $25,000 affair.
The daughter of Muscle Massive-Girlie Tough, who was sent off at odds of 6-1, improved her record to 5-2-0 from 11 tries with the win. Burke Racing Stable LLC, Our Horse Cents Stables, Tracy Hendler and Weaver Bruscemi LLC own the career winner of $160,068.
Here are the fields for the finals of the Three Diamonds and the Goldsmith Maid:
$424,000 Three Diamonds Final
1. Happy Becky – Chris Christoforou
2. The Show Returns – Scott Zeron
3. JK Shesalady – Yannick Gingras
4. Float On By – James MacDonald
5. Solar Sister – Scott Zeron
6. Ideal Nuggets – Sylvain Filion
7. Rock Her World – James MacDonald
8. Band Of Angels – Yannick Gingras
9. Zip Code Envy – Ron Pierce
10. Shakai Hanover – Jody Jamieson
AE: Storm Point – Ron Pierce
$464,000 Goldsmith Maid Final
1. Jolene Jolene – Sylvain Filion
2. Demons N Diamonds – Sylvain Filion
3. Gatka Hanover – Yannick Gingras
4. Mission Brief – Yannick Gingras
5. Flirting Filly – Ron Pierce
6. Smexi – Jimmy Takter
7. Stubborn Belle – Paul MacDonell
8. Juanitas Fury – Paul MacDonell
9. Tymal Illbthere – Trevor Henry
10. Danielle Hall – Jody Jamieson
AE: Lilu Hanover – Scott Zeron
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.