by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group
Toronto, ON — Extending her unbeaten streak, Zorgwijk Emani headlined a trio of C$30,000 elimination divisions of the Elegantimage Stakes for three-year-old trotting fillies on Friday evening at Woodbine.
Not disappointing, the daughter of Valleymeister took the fastest of those three divisions, which also saw Shannon Hall and Mystical Sunshine make a trip to the winner’s circle.
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Zorgwijk Emani remained unbeaten in 2004 with a victory on Friday night.
Leaving from post four in the final division and in rein to her regular pilot Kevin Wallis, Zorgwijk Emani ($3.20) scooted out from the four hole and led the field to the :271 quarter. Parked from the outset and clearing after the call, Sunshinenlollipops and driver Rick Zeron cleared to the lead in the backstretch.
Floating back out for the retake, Wallis surveyed the scene before sending his mount to the front and putting up a :563 half. Proceeding to the third call in 1:263, Wallis and the speedster were being chased by Miss Michelle H and driver Rod Allen, who were in pursuit after popping from third.
Although in the lane, even with Wallis totally still in the bike, Zorgwijk Emani kept on going, eventually stopping the proceedings in 1:543.
The mile took a full second off Zorgwijk Emani’s mark, just missed the stake record (set last year by Southwind Allaire) by one-fifth of a second, and was three-fifths of a second off of the track record, which was set in 2002 by Lissome Hanover.
Miss Michelle H and Allen were two lengths back in second, while Tag A Victory and driver Stephen Smith finished five and a half lengths back in third.
Trained by Linda Wallis for the Cuzzins Stable of Boca Raton, Florida, Zorgwijk Emani is now a perfect five-for-five on the campaign and has a cool $100,793 in earnings. Out of the Supergill mare Super Charming, Zorgwijk Emani now has a career bankroll of $192,627.
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Steve Condren pilots Shannon Hall to the winner’s circle in her Elegantimage elimination.
After being placed back from first to last in her division of the Casual Breeze, Shannon Hall ($10.30), in rein to Steve Condren, scored in 1:55 to kick off the night.
Owned by Milano, Italy’s Scuderia O PL Di Porrati, Shannon Hall was first at the opening quarter in :271 after Funny Malentine had made a break off of the gate. Fresh off of a Mohawk track-equaling mile, Ifhallscouldtalk and Trevor Ritchie cleared to the lead after being parked from the outset and sliced a :564 half.
Merit Badge and Luc Ouellette came attacking from third in the final turn, where Condren and the daughter of Garland Lobell occupied the pocket. After she reached the three-quarters pole in 1:26, Ifhallscouldtalk made a break in the lane. Trained by Kerstin Milton, Shannon Hall came home in the three-wide path and posted the victory by three-quarters of a length in the mark-lowering mile.
Going off at 43-1, Icy Pleasure and driver MacDonell darted to the inside after Ifhallscouldtalk’s break and finished second. A 36-1 shot, Bali Blue Chip and driver Chris Christoforou finished two and a half lengths back in third and completed a C$2,297.40 triactor.
There was a moment of concern after the race, as Ifhallscouldtalk did go down on the track in the vicinity of the quarter pole. Fortunately, she quickly got up and was able to trot off of the track.
It was the second win in three tries this season for Shannon Hall, who is out of the Worthy Bowl mare SOS Virago. The brown filly now has $15,950 in earnings on the campaign and $37,950 for her six-race career.
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Mystical Sunshine lived up to her favored status in the middle elimination.
After garnering the attention on the tote board, Mystical Sunshine ($2.40) and MacDonell stopped the timer in 1:551 during the second split.
Sitting second on the rail as Ladylind and driver Cat Manzi put up fractions of :271, :581 and 1:273, Mystical Sunshine and MacDonell came three-wide in the lane and took two-fifths of a second off of her life’s mark.
At 55-1, Rant And Rave and driver Jack Moiseyev finished second, three lengths back, while Yoko Hanover and Ritchie finished three and a half lengths in arrears.
A Yankee Glide daughter out of the Royal Prestige mare Aura Of Glory, Mystical Sunshine now has three wins in her six starts this season to go along with a pair of seconds. Owned by New York’s Alvin Jacobson and Sidney Korn of New Jersey, Mystical Sunshine now has $39,330 earned on the year and $70,980 for her career.
The C$607,300 final will be contested next Saturday, June 19 along with the North America Cup and the finals of both the Goodtimes and the Armbro Flight.