Poof Shes Gone and Ultimate Cameron both scored decisive victories in their respective eliminations for this year’s Elegantimage Stakes on what was a beautiful Friday night at Mohawk Racetrack
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Poof Shes Gone looked much more like herself in Friday’s opening $35,000 division as she won handily for driver David Miller in 1:54.2.
The daughter of Kadabra – Travelin Superlite, who had looked a little flat in her last two starts, landed fifth off the gate and then used a first-up approach from the halfway point on to turn back a rallying Ipromisenottotell (Phil Hudon) with Jesses Messenger (Jody Jamieson) rounding out the top three.
Bar Slide (Trevor Ritchie) and Action Broadway (Brett Miller), who was coming off a 1:52.4 track record in last week’s Casual Breeze Stakes, were the other two to qualify for next week’s final. Poof Shes Gone was let go at a generous $11.80 to win.
“She was much better tonight, much sharper acting,” said Miller. “She did have a tendency to relax and I kept making her trot there. She is to where I’m a little more confident in her. After last week, I talked to ‘Nifty’ [trainer Richard Norman] and he thought he could get her a little sharper and she was much better.”
The victory improves her seasonal record to three wins in four starts and just over $90,000 in purse money. Lifetime, she has now banked $1,160,000 for owners Mel Hartman and John Fielding of Ontario and Herb Liverman and David McDuffee of Florida.
There was little doubt from the time the wings folded that Ultimate Cameron was going to win the second elimination. The slick-gaited daughter of Yankee Glide – Cameron Hall jetted straight to command for driver Trevor Ritchie and had no anxious moments en route to a 1:54.1 tally.
Ultimate Cameron faced brief pressure from Highland Strikes (Mario Baillargeon) just past the quarter before that challenger rolled into a break and took herself out of contention. In the end, Bramalea Hanover (Steve Condren) finished two lengths in arrears with Bone A Fide (Yannick Gingras) landing the show spot.
The other two qualifiers from the second split were Emmylou Who (Lyle MacArthur) and Random Destiny (Riina Rekila). The winner kicked back $7.90 for the win.
“She was very good,” said Ritchie. “She rolled out of there nice – she did last week also. When I cleared to the front, Mario [Baillargeon – driver of Highland Strikes] was coming and I wasn’t sure what was going to happen there but Mario’s mare made a break. She [Ultimate Cameron] really relaxes nice up front so she kicked home pretty good.”
The Robert Stewart trainee is now undefeated in two starts this season after winning just once in nine trips postward last season for the Diamond Creek Farm Llc. of Paris, Kentucky. The winner’s share of the purse boosted her career earnings to just over $275,000.
The $557,000 Elegantimage Final will go postward on Saturday, June 26 as part of Pepsi North America Cup night at Mohawk. Both of the elimination winners were able to select their post position for the final.
Here is a look at the field in post position order:
1. Emmylou Who
2. Ultimate Cameron
3. Poof Shes Gone
4. Ipromisenottotell
5. Action Broadway
6. Jesses Messenger
7. Bar Slide
8. Bone A Fide
9. Bramalea Hanover
10. Random Destiny
To view Friday's results, click here.
(With files from WEG)