Fresh off a 1:49.4 victory in the Artiscape Pace last Sunday, June 6, which was the first sub-1:50 mile in Tioga Downs’ history, Dreamfair Eternal heads into Saturday’s eliminations for the Ellamony Stakes at Flamboro Downs as the heavy favourite
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A total of 11 aged pacing mares will face off in a pair of $20,000 eliminations for the second running of the Ellamony Stakes, Flamboro’s second most significant event behind the Confederation Cup, named in honour of three-time O’Brien Award winner Ellamony.
Dreamfair Eternal, Canada’s 2009 Older Pacing Mare of the Year who is trained by Pat Fletcher for owner-breeder John Lamers of Ingersoll, ON, will start from the outside Post 5 in the first elim with Randy Waples, and is the 3-5 favourite in the morning line. The six-year-old Camluck-J Cs Nathalie mare has won four of her five starts so far this season earning $146,500.
Meadows invader Forever Ivy, the 4-1 second choice, has drawn the rail for trainer-driver Charlie Norris and owner-breeder Rebecca Ewing of Apple Creek, Ohio while millionaire pacer To Helen Back and Mike Saftic, who finished fourth to Double Dream N in the stake’s 2009 event, will leave from Post 4 for John Pentland and Mike and Anne Shunock of Dorchester, ON.
Blue Chip Matchmaker champion Ginger And Fred is the 5-2 morning line favourite in the second elimination. The four-year-old daughter of Real Artist-Graceful Motion, who finished a disappointing eighth in the Artiscape Pace, is trained Ron Burke and owned by Howard Taylor, Robert Feldman, Edwin Gold, and Jerry Silva. Mark MacDonald will team up with the millionaire, who has put together a record of 3-2-2 in 13 starts this year with $209,360 banked. Ginger And Fred will take on 3-1 second choice Voelz Hanover and Mario Baillargeon, who has drawn the inside post position for trainer Ben Baillargeon and owner Richard Berthiaume of Pointe-Aux-Trembles, QC.
The top four finishers from each elimination and one fifth-place finisher drawn by lot will advance to the $100,000 (added) final on Saturday, June 19.
Post time for Saturday’s harness racing card at Flamboro Downs is 1 p.m. The first elimination is scheduled for Race 5 (post time 2:12 p.m.) with the second elim carded as Race 7 (post time 2:48 p.m.).
Ellamony Elimination #1
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line
1 - Forever Ivy – Charlie Norris – Charlie Norris – 4-1
2 - A Ps Money Maker – Rick Zeron – Travis Umphrey – 10-1
3 – Windsong Filou – Jody Jamieson – Shawn Robinson – 8-1
4 – To Helen Back – Mike Saftic – John Pentland – 6-1
5 – Dreamfair Eternal – Randy Waples – Pat Flectcher – 3-5
Ellamony Elimination #2
PP – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line
1 – Voelz Hanover – Mario Baillargeon – Ben Baillargeon – 3-1
2 – Arts Diva – Paul MacDonell – Ken Sucee – 4-1
3 – Special Sweetheart – Sylvain Filion – Tom Artandi – 8-1
4 – Four Starzz Meliss – Jason Brewer – Glenn Lalonde – 10-1
5 – Racing Star – Jody Jamieson – Bob McIntosh – 6-1
6. Ginger And Fred – Mark MacDonald – Ron Burke – 5-2
To view Saturday’s entries, click here.