Neils Golden Girl established a new Flamboro Downs track record for aged trotting mares with her eye-catching 1:55.3 triumph in the $11,000 Preferred 2 on Sunday night (Dec. 20) for trainer/driver Travis Henry.
The five-year-old daughter of Majestic Son out of Vision Of Gold shaved three-fifths of a second off the divisional track record that was co-held by four mares. The former record had been set in 2008 by Indys Kylee and equalled by Winkys Pride (2014), Can I Say (2014) and Riveting Rosie (2015).
Neils Golden Girl settled away in sixth-place early on while Spartan Victory forged to the front over Cimeronken and then led the field through fractions of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:26.1.
Meanwhile, Fathers Amiga went first over from third coming into the stretch the first time around with the outer flow developing. Henry opted to stay inside and Neils Golden Girl gained ground along the pylons.
Neils Golden Girl made it up to third-place as the field headed down the backstretch and tipped outside after Fathers Amiga stalled.
Neils Golden Girl then reeled in the leading Spartan Victory and edged ahead just past the third quarter mark before trotting away down the stretch in a :29.1 final quarter to win by two and three-quarter lengths. Neils Golden Girl paid $27.30 for the 12-1 upset. Cimeronken edged out Spartan Victory for second.
Neils Golden Girl has won seven of her 30 starts this year while banking $41,620 in purses for owners Lois Allison of Hamilton, Ont. and Wayne Allison of Lynden, Ont. Sunday's score was the 11th and fastest win of her career, knocking one full second off her lifetime mark that was taken at Georgian Downs this past summer.
The evening's $7,500 Preferred 3 Pace was won by the three-year-old Mach Three gelding Pier Ho Temptation ($6.10), who was urged on to a six-length score in 1:55.2 by driver Anthony MacDonald for trainer/owner Duncan Brewer of Waterdown, Ont. Warrawee Phoenix and Cliff Drummond rounded out the top three finishers.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Flamboro Downs.