by Greg Blanchard. WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — The best older trotting mares in the sport will clash this Friday night (July 17) at Mohawk Racetrack in a pair of C$50,000 eliminations for this year’s Armbro Flight Stakes.

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Classic Oaks winner Classic Lane will headline the first elimination of the Armbro Flight.

The red-hot Classic Lane will be one of the main contenders in the opening split with Steve Condren scheduled to drive the 4-year-old daughter of Lindy Lane-Heartland Classic. The pair last teamed up to win the $314,802 Classic Oaks Final on June 13 at Mohawk. Since then, she has also captured the $100,000 Perretti Matchmaker Final at The Meadowlands. A seasonal winner of five races and $308,604, Classic Lane has been installed as the 5-2 second choice from post five.

The 6-5 morning line choice is Buck I St Pat who will leave just inside of Classic Lane from post four. The millionaire daughter of Jailhouse Jesse recently returned from Sweden where she competed in the prestigious Elitlopp. Rick Zeron will pick up the drive on Friday night.

Also entered is Brigham Dream who makes just her third start of the season. She has recently relocated to the Ben Baillargeon Stable and is reunited with driver Luc Ouellette who guided her to victory in last season’s $250,000 Breeders Crown Final. She starts from post six in the seven-horse affair.

The outside post will be occupied by Maid For Tag, an 8-year-old Norwegian-owned daughter of Tagliabue who arrived in Ontario on Tuesday along with a trio of competitors for the Maple Leaf Trot eliminations.

She started her career in the stable of Jim Campbell before heading overseas where she has racked up 20 career wins and close to $427,000 in earnings. She has moved into the barn of Harald Lunde for Friday’s assignment and will have the services of driver Trevor Ritchie.

The second elimination is headlined by $1.3 million winner Falls For You who starts from post three for driver Mark MacDonald. The Trond Smedshammer trainee is 2-for-11 this season and has been installed as the even-money choice in the morning line.

Lantern Kronos, who won 12 of 18 starts last season as a sophomore, has struggled so far this season with just one victory in seven outings for trainer Jimmy Takter. She will be reunited with driver Paul MacDonell on Friday and starts from post five in the field of seven.

The top five finishers from each elimination will qualify for the C$365,000 Armbro Flight Final which will be contested on Saturday, July 25, as part of Maple Leaf Trot night at Mohawk.