Driver Rick Zeron and trainer Frank O'Reilly took two out of the three $40,000 OSS Gold Eliminations for two-year-old trotting fillies at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday, with the tandem setting a new track record with Cumin First.
Starting from Post 2, Cumin First settled into third for Zeron, watching as Oaklea Rea (Mark Etsell) set a half-mile tempo of :28.4 and :59.1. Zeron pulled on the right line coming to the half and Cumin First started the outside journey, seizing the lead down the backside and tripping the third beam in 1:28.4.
On cruise control, Cumin First won by five and three-quarter lengths and stopped the clock in 1:59.2. Stonebridge Diva (Brad Rae) finished second while Pajama Land (Jeff O'Brien) was third.
The 1:59.2 mile eclipses the Rideau track record that was previously held by Birmingham, who set the 1:59.4 standard in 2005.
O'Reilly trains the Striking Sahbra – Look Whos Cumin filly for the partnership of Mary Anne Lauzon, Dr. Ruth Irving, John Fielding, and John Jesson. Cumin First, who was a $24,000 yearling purchase, is five-for-eight this year, with earnings of $190,000.
Quantum Royalty gave Zeron and O'Reilly the double in the second elimination. The Angus Hall – Val Lee Woman filly followed along in fifth most of the way through panels of :29.3, 1:00.2 and 1:30.2. Around the final turn, Zeron moved Quantum Royalty three-wide and she kicked home in :28.2 to post a three-quarter length triumph in 2:00.
Easter Bonnet (Guy Gagnon), who did most of the roadwork, won the place photo over pocket sitter Daylon Mystique (Wayne Henry).
Quantum Royalty was making her debut for O'Reilly, who recently took over training duties on the $52,000 yearling purchase for owner Jean Pierre Lareau. It was the first win for the filly in her second lifetime start.
Ill Wait For You waited for no one when she went gate-to-wire for driver Trevor Ritchie the third elimination. The daughter of Kadabra – Blue Cookie hammered out stanzas of :29, 1:00 and 1:30 en route to the three-quarter length score in 1:59.3.
Paycheck Lavec (Doug Brown) had the pocket trip, but could not capitalize and settled for second. Cuddler (Murray Brethour) hugged the rail to finish third.
Dan Creighton trains Ill Wait For You, a $62,000 yearling purchase, for Danterra Racing Stable. In eight starts, she is 3-0-1 and has earnings of $71,820.
Next Friday's Gold Final:
1. Paycheck Lavec
2. Ill Wait For You
3. Pajama Land
4. Cuddler
5. Easter Bonnet
6. Cumin First
7. Quantum Royalty
8. Daylon Mystique
9. Stonebridge Diva
There were also two divisions of the CKG Billings Amateur Driving Series on the Friday program.
Eastwood Fly overcame a first-over journey to take the $3,800 first race for driver Vladimir Melnichenko. The 12-year-old veteran gelding by Royal Strength won by three quarters of a length in 2:03.3 over Churro (Philippe Trudeau) and Incredibly Elegant (Todd Whitney).
It was the third win this season for Eastwood Fly, who is owned and trained by Robert Leach. For Melnichenko, who hails from Fly Creek, NY, it was his first driving win this year and the 26th of his career.
Latenight Bayama took charge at the half and never looked back in the $6,000 third race – the second Billings event – for driver Philippe Trudeau. The seven-year-old Camluck gelding won by an easy three and a half lengths for Trudeau, stopping the clock in 1:57.4. Davay To San Jose (Dave Drew) was second while Carls Future (Alain Lamontagne) finished third.
It was the second consecutive and third win of the year for Latenight Bayama, who is trained by Lois Russell for owner G T L R Inc. For Trudeau, the victory was the second on the campaign and the resident of Pincourt, Quebec now has 15 in his career.
To view Rideau's results, click here.