Neither of the early season Gold Series winners were able to replicate their success at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday, July 11, allowing Performing Art to leapfrog up to the top of the two-year-old pacing filly division standings.
Performing Art tailed Alibi Seelster to a runner-up finish in the July 1 season opener at Mohawk Racetrack, but on Thursday the Shadow Play daughter fired straight to the front and held her peers at bay through a 1:54.2 mile. Last season’s top reinsman in the Ontario Sires Stakes program, Sylvain Filion, piloted Performing Art to her first victory for trainer Otis Hall and owners Sauble Hill Farms of Tara and Nasussito Racing Inc. of Ayr.
Favourite Nefertiti Bluechip finished three and three-quarter lengths back in second and local filly Kay J Jet, owned by Meadowgem Farm of Osgoode and 9096 9205 Quebec Inc of St. Henri de Levis, QC, finished third.
In the second $70,000 division Grassroots winner Lady Shadow made a successful leap up to the Gold Series for trainer Gregg McNair and owners Lindsey and Connie Rankin of Lexington, MI. The Shadow Play daughter was driven to the 1:54.4 victory, a new personal best, by Doug McNair.
Doug McNair also drove the winner of the other Gold Series division, crafting a 1:54.2 mile for Badlands Hanover daughter Sudoku in her first lifetime start. Tony O’Sullivan conditions Sudoku for Let It Ride Stables Inc, Robert Cooper Stables LLC and Dana Parham of Boca Raton, FL and Howard Taylor of Philadelphia, PA.
The top point earners from the first two Gold Series legs will make their next start in the Mid-Summer Challenge at Mohawk Racetrack on July 19.
Ontario Sires Stakes excitement returns to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday, July 28 with the lightning fast three-year-old pacing colts in their second Gold Series leg.
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To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.