It was all treats and no tricks for Elusive Desire and Daylon Mystique tonight at Woodbine Racetrack, as the two fillies captured their respective $40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold eliminations for freshman trotters.
In the first of the two elims, Race 3, driver Paul MacDonell and Elusive Desire made a late rush from off the pace to win in 1:58.4 over SOS Respect (Sylvain Filion). The tiring favourite, Cumin First (Rick Zeron) set the pace for much of the mile but flagged in late stretch and settled for fourth, with Arona and the returning Chris Christoforou, stepping up for third.
Elusive Desire had found the winner's circle elusive until tonight, scoring six seconds and four thirds in 11 lifetime starts. A daughter of Angus Hall, she is trained by Michael Keeling and owned by P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc of Cambridge, H. Charles Armstrong of Brampton, and Robert Fasken of Oakville, Ontario.
In the second elim, Daylon Mystique prevailed by a head over second favourite, Stonebridge Diva to win in a new lifetime mark of 1:59.1, for trainer/driver/co-owner Wayne Henry of Arthur, Ontario. She stalked pacesetter and extreme longshot, Pajama Land, for much of the mile, then pounced in late stretch, with Stonebridge Diva and Randy Waples coming from well off the pace for the place spot. Another longshot, Blair Burgess trainee Friendly Amigo, grabbed third.
Daylon Mystique, a daughter of Amigo Hall, has now accumulated four wins in 11 lifetime starts and boosted her earnings to $166,170.
To view Friday's results, click here.
(WEG)