Witch Way Still Undefeated

Freshmen trotting fillies flocked to Flamboro Downs on Wednesday, as Canada’s fastest half-mile oval hosted a quartet of $40,000 OSS Gold Series elims

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The opening tilt, in which seven of the eight starters were sired by Angus Hall, went to Winning Sissy and driver Roger Mayotte in 2:01. The Angus Hall-Sisters Winner K lass survived a first-over journey en route to winning by half a length over Dancehall Mistress. My Old Flame came from out of the clouds to finish third.

Charlie Norris conditions the second-time starter, who was sent off at odds of 9-2, for owner Bob Key of Leechburg, PA. Second in the first assignment of her career at The Meadows, Winning Sissy has potted $22,050 to date.

Heavily favoured Witch Way, fresh off a sweep of the first OSS Gold Series event of the season at Grand River Raceway, out-trotted seven foes to keep her undefeated record intact for the team of driver Randy Waples and trainer Joe MacIsaac. Sent off as the 4-5 choice, the daughter of Ken Warkentin-Chelemark Gizmo shot right to the front and successfully supplied splits of :30.3, 1:00.4 and 1:30.4 en route to the 1-1/4 length tally over Destinys Magic in a career-best clocking of 2:00.2. Twin B Sensation made a bid in the late stages of the mile before weakening and finishing third.

Doug Millard of Woodstock shares ownership on the filly with co-owner/breeder Carolyn Williston of Moffat, ON, and together they’ve watched the precocious performer bank $105,000 in her first three tries.

After making a costly miscue in the first Gold Series Final of the season at Grand River Raceway, Counter Pointe bounced back for a decisive score in her elimination in a time of 2:00.3 for trainer/driver Wayne Henry. It was a lifetime best performance for the daughter of Striking Sahbra-Garland Bonita, who led through fractions of :29.1, 1:01 and 1:31.1. The margin of victory for the 3-5 favourite was 4-3/4 lengths over Wark Woman, with Elin a distant third.

Henry Stable, Dan McCann and Jeff Thomson shelled out $80,000 to purchase the trotting miss from last year’s Forest City Yearling Sale, and she’s already recouped $50,400 of her purchase price.

Circles was the fastest elimination winner thanks to her 2:00.1 triumph for the duo of Hall-of-Famer Jacques Hebert and trainer John Smith. The daughter of Majestic Son-Merles Image carved out fractions of :29, 1:00.1 before using a :29.4 closing panel to seal the deal by 2-3/4 lengths over Frisky Strike. Radical Dreamer closed well to finish third.

Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Circles improved her record to 2-1-0 in three tries for owner/breeder John Smith Racing Stb Inc of Woodlawn, ON. She upped her lifetime earnings to $72,500 with the victory.

To view results for Wednesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Flamboro Downs.