When Ms Goliath lines up behind the gate in the inaugural Girls’ Night Out Pacing Series on Friday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, she possesses one trait that separates herself from her rivals: she's a mother.
Last year, Ms Goliath, an 11-time winner, gave birth to a colt by Bettors Delight named The Right Fit.
“She did well for us on the track, so we decided to breed her,” said trainer Dustin Jones. “We bred her to Mach Three last season and she didn’t catch, so Mr. Serge Godin (owner of Ecurie Synergie) and I decided to bring her back to the track.”
Although Ms Goliath has posted just one win from eight starts since her return, Jones remains optimistic.
”We figured she would need some starts to get her legs back, and that’s to be expected,” he explained. “Her last few starts appear to me that she’s looking like her old self. She’s going in the right direction.”
Ms Goliath, a daughter of Goliath Bayama, has enjoyed a productive career to date with $215,735 in earnings and a lifetime best of 1:51.4.
“She’s got a lot of class to her,” said Jones, a resident of Campbellville. “She’s a big, strong, tough mare. She wears a 62-inch hopple and is very well gaited.”
Looking ahead to the Girls’ Night Out Pacing Series, which includes $20,000 opening-round divisions, Jones believes it will be a good test for his seven-year-old.
“We have to deal with Post 10, but there’s nothing we can do about that,” he said. “It’s a good series for her and it looks quite competitive. She’s getting better with every start and hopefully that continues.”
Girls’ Night Out, which will consist of two preliminary legs and a final, is for aged pacing mares, who are non-winners of $30,000 in 2012 as of midnight July 1, with a minimum of five starts this year. Winners of over $100,000 in 2011 are ineligible.
The $30,000 second leg will take place on Friday, August 3, with the $50,000 final set for Friday, August 10.
The final is slated for the same night as the Girls’ Night Out extravaganza. Ladies in attendance can win a pair of floor seat tickets to the upcoming Madonna concert at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.
Also included in the package, the lucky winner will dine at the highly-regarded Turf Lounge, receive a $500 Elmwood Spa certificate, and a one-night stay at the Royal York Hotel.
Each participant will also receive a complimentary $10 cash card to play in the exclusive Girls’ Night Out Handicapping Challenge, valued at $2,000. The winner will win the Madonna prized pack.
The contest is open to the first 50 women who register at Trackside Bar & Patio on Friday, August 10. Each person will also receive a complimentary Girls’ Night Out gift bag.
To view the harness racing entries for Friday at Mohawk, click the following link: Friday Entries - Mohawk Racetrack.
(WEG)