by Bruce Murray, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group
Campbellville, ON — The two most dominant Ontario sired three-year-old fillies of 2004 put on matching displays in their respective finals of the Standardbred Breeders & Owners Stakes on Friday night at Mohawk.
First it was Peaceful Way’s turn in the C$205,825 Filly Trot and she was later followed to the winner’s circle by Invitro in the C$268,550 Filly Pace.
Fresh from her track record 1:544 mile of a week ago, Peaceful Way was placed into the four hole off the starting gate by driver Chris Christoforou as Miss Michelle H rushed to the top. Christoforou allowed the early action to settle, then had the Angus Hall miss on the move and quickly made the front as the half flashed up in :573. As she had done the previous time out, Peaceful Way began to separate herself from the field and pulled away in the stretch to another convincing victory, equaling her own track mark of 1:544. McCall Magic, fifth and parked at the three-quarters, closed the most to finish second, four and a half lengths back, with Summerhill Hallie third.
Trained by co-owner Dave Tingley for partners Goin My Way Stable and Angie Stiller, Peaceful Way won for the seventh time in 10 starts this year to boost her earnings to $388,943. For her career, the 15-time winner surpassed $1.1 million.
As the near unanimous 1-9 choice, Peaceful Way returned a mere $2.20.
Not to be outdone, the tote board looked almost identical as Invitro lined up behind the gate at 1-9 in race five.
Paul MacDonell followed the fast-leaving Taylor Lynne (Jody Jamieson) away with Invitro and overtook the talented Fit For Life filly as they cruised by the quarter in :264. The positions of the top three (including Illusionist) remained unchanged thereafter as Invitro, pursued closely by Taylor Lynne, went on to post a three-quarter length decision in 1:51. The mile erased the 1:511 track record of Donkeys Can Talk, set in 2003.
“What can you say? She’s unbelievable,” said MacDonell. “Every time you put her to the post, she gives you more. She always seems unstressed. Nothing seems to bother her. She’s really easy on herself.”
Not easy on her competition though as the homebred Camluck-Keystone Trinidad filly earned her ninth win in 14 starts this season for co-owner and trainer Gord Irwin and partner Murray Ross. She lifted her lifetime bankroll to $617,347.