by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Ron Adams hopes that Smartygirl can provide him with a magical victory in the Girls Night Out Pacing Series final on Friday (Aug. 9) at Mohawk.

New Image Media photo

Smartygirl is a 12-time winner in her career, with $104,927 in earnings.

After finishing first and second in both preliminary legs, Smartygirl will look to give the 26-year-old Adams his biggest payday as a trainer in the C$43,100 final. The daughter of Camluck-Gladstone Girl has drawn post three with Doug McNair once again at the helm.

“We drew inside, which was a big help,” Adams said. “She’s been racing very well recently and has been very consistent this season. Doug (McNair) has been using her gate speed and driving her aggressively and she’s responded well.”

This is the second time Adams has trained the 5-year-old pacing miss.

“She was quite the opposite of this year,” Adams said. “Before, she was the model of inconsistency so she went to another trainer, Lorne House, to try her luck then returned back to me earlier this year. She would race terrific one week and very poor the next. It seems the opposite this season.”

The proof is in the pudding as Smartygirl has banked $36,368 this season with a 5-5-5 record from 26 starts. A terrific result compared to her 2-1-1 record from 13 starts last season and $10,029 in seasonal earnings.

“Maybe she just has matured and figured it all out,” said the Lasalle resident. “She’s not a big mare, but has a terrific gait, a big heart and right now she’s very confident.”

Adams, who currently trains six horses, says that Smartygirl is the ideal horse to have in the barn.

“She’s very easy to get along with,” he says. “She’s easy to train, she’s quiet and very low maintenance. She wears a 59-1/2 inch hobble, which is pretty big considering her size. There really isn’t anything not to like about her.”

Twelve pacing fillies and mares will line up for the rich purse on Friday and Adams believes Smartygirl is a top contender.

“It looks like Ferrari Sena is the horse to beat, but she drew post 11 again, which benefits us,” says Adams. “Our mare has been racing at her best lately and if we can get a similar trip like we did two starts ago (winning in 1:52.1–a new lifetime best) where she kind of got away on the field, we have a good shot. You have to be concerned about all the horses in the race anytime there’s big money on the line, but we’re coming into the race in great form.”

Dr. David Fisher owns Smartygirl, a 12-time winner with $104,927 in career earnings.

The field for the final, which takes place in race five, will line up as follows: 1. Cards That Count, 2. Trama Unit, 3. Smartygirl, 4. Hat Trick Honey, 5. Mia Seelster, 6. Lady Latte, 7. Cndiana Jones, 8. Smashbox, 9. Back Yard Baby, 10. Jonsie Jones, 11. Ferrari Sena and 12. Boat House Row.

The series is for 4-year-old mares who were non-winners of C$30,000 in 2013 as of June 30, 2013. Winners over C$100,000 in 2012 were not eligible.