by Bruce Murray, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — Eternal Camnation was back at her home away from home Friday night at Woodbine, and with a surgeon’s precision, dissected the C$48,000 Mares Open Pace.

Luc Ouellette didn’t waste any time putting the pacing queen in her rightful place on top of the field. With eight rivals safely tucked in behind her, the seven-year-old daughter of Cam Fella carved out the first three fractions of :27¹, :56⁴ and 1:24¹.

Lookettepoedunk took to the outside approaching the far turn and mounted a modest challenge, but Eternal Camnation kicked away at the top of the stretch and opened up a quick three lengths as she coasted to victory in 1:51³. Lookettepoedunk stayed for second, with another of Eternal Camnation’s longtime rivals, Always Cam, third.

“She hasn’t had a whole lot of racing luck the last couple of starts, and even the (Classic Series Distaff) distance race she won at Mohawk, she had traffic trouble,” said Ouellette. “So Jeff (Miller) asked me to possibly put her on the front and try to get an easy middle half. She was well within herself. She’s still the class of all the girls. Now, she just has to get a little luck with the (post position) draw for the Breeders Crown (eliminations on July 24 at the Meadowlands).”

Owned by the Eternal Camnation Stable of Haviland, Ohio, it was win number 46 of her unparalleled career and the $4 million plateau is the next monetary milestone on the horizon.

As the 4-5 favourite, she returned $3.80 to win.

Hosit The Colors, one of the circuit’s resilient pacing warriors, is also closing in on becoming a deserved Canadian millionaire. The nine-year-old stalwart captured a C$33,000 claiming event in 1:51³ with an ultra-game performance for driver Chris Christoforour and trainer Joe Stutzman. A June 18 claim of Niele Jiwan of British Columbia, the On The Road Again gelding boosted his lifetime bankroll to $849,217 with his 47th winning tally.

To complete the night of classy winners, Turnpike Token, the ageless 11-year-old trotting machine, took a C$28,000 conditioned event in 1:55¹ for Trevor Ritchie. Marc Isabel trains the Jurgy Hanover gelding for owner Mike Wassilyn, who sports $1,116,585 in earnings. It was his eighth win this year and 46th lifetime.