Mikes Tony went wire-to-wire to take the $22,400 Autumn Series final for two- and three-year-old trotting fillies at Flamboro Downs on Saturday, Oct. 25.
The filly pushed forward out of the three-hole and put all seven rivals behind her heading into the first turn. She was in firm control for Samuel Fillion through :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.2 fractions and advanced three lengths clear of the rest coming down the backstretch. Pocket-sitter Im A Diva (Mike Horner) encroached on the final turn but came up empty in the stretch, and Mikes Tony pulled clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 2:01.1. Southwold Gema (Garrett Rooney) flew home off cover for second. Im A Diva held third.
Mikes Tony, a sophomore daughter of Alarm Detector-Musclemaya, has now won two straight starts after beginning her career one-for-16. She has earned $25,550. Bill Megens bred and trains the filly, who is owned by Bob Megens of Guelph, Ont. The win price was $5.20.
The Autumn Series is for Ontario-sired two- and three-year-olds that were non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of Sept. 30.
In the overnight feature, Golden Leader took her first career Preferred-level victory in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace off a pocket trip. She pushed to the front on the first turn before ceding command to Sauble Amber (J Harris) at the quarter in :28.2. Dale Spence kept the mare in the two-hole through middle fractions of :57.1 and 1:25.4, then sent her three-wide as Sauble Amble scrapped with the first-over Stag Royal (Scott Coulter) entering the final turn. Golden Leader drew alongside the pair as they swung for home and grinded past Sauble Amber in the stretch, reaching past her by a neck to score in 1:56.1. Sauble Amber was second with Stag Royal third between horses.
Golden Leader tallied her 32nd lifetime victory in 166 starts while raising her earnings to $244,970. Mitch Tierney trains the eight-year-old, a daughter of Big Jim-Designated Leader, for Lynn Cameron of Saint-John, N.B. The mare paid $4.70 to win.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Flamboro Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)