by Sandra Snyder, for the Ontario Sires Stakes

Campbellville, ON — Just two weeks after stepping onto the track for the first time this season, 3-year-old trotting filly Matriarch heads back to Mohawk Racetrack as one of the early favorites for Friday’s (July 13) C$130,000 Gold Final.

“I was hoping to have her ready sooner, but she had a little setback in the spring,” explains Acton resident Ted Nadhazi. “I was actually aiming her for the Elegantimage and Casual Breeze, but that didn’t work out. That was disappointing, so I’m grateful now.”

Matriarch made her sophomore debut at Mohawk in a qualifier on June 29, posting a steady effort in 2:00, and then impressed fans at the Campbellville oval last Friday with a come from behind victory in her Gold elimination. The filly and driver Rick Zeron made a bold three-wide move at the three-quarters and laid down a :28.3 last quarter to claim the 1:58 victory.

“She trotted time-wise what I thought she could, but I didn’t think that would get the job done to win,” says Nadhazi. “I had moderate expectations going in, and she superseded my expectations.”

In spite of her late start this season, Matriarch is no novice. The Duke Of York daughter made nine starts as a 2-year-old, scoring one win, one second and two thirds. In her last four starts she posted a win and a second in overnight action, finished third in her Breeders Crown elimination and then made a break within sight of the wire in the Breeders Crown Final.

The miscue in the Breeders Crown Final was the last of a series of three heartbreakers Matriarch threw at Nadhazi last season. The other two came in her only Gold Series appearances.

“She made three breaks last year at the three worst times,” laments the horseman. “So I’m not too excited, I’m just kind of going with the flow. She has some heart, and some class, and I hope she has more opportunities to show that.”

While Nadhazi says he is not excited about the filly’s prospects from post two in Friday’s Gold Final, he will admit to some pride in her acquisition of a Gold elimination trophy. The longtime horseman acquired the filly’s mother, Really A Queen, as a yearling, raced her for four seasons and then selected stallion Duke Of York as her mate for the 2003 breeding season. Since Matriarch was born in 2004, the filly has known no other trainer, and Nadhazi even handled driving duties in her first two freshman qualifiers.

“When they go and do well, you’re proud,” he admits. “I only train her. I work construction in and around her schedule; it’s a one horse stable.”

Nadhazi has a yearling full-sister to Matriarch to start in the fall, but until then his hopes are riding solely in the filly’s race bike.

She and Rick Zeron will attempt to boost his excitement level from post two in Friday’s eighth race, squaring off against reigning Gold Final champion Caught My Eye from post three, and elimination winners Maple Sugar and Carolyn AS from posts five and seven.

Post time for Mohawk Racetrack’s Friday, July 13 program is 7:20 pm.

Mohawk Racetrack Gold Final – Race 8 – C$130,000
Post – Horse – Sire – Driver – Trainer
1 – Constance Hall (Striking Sahbra) – Ra. Waples – R. McIntosh
2 – Matriarch (Duke Of York) – R. Zeron – T. Nadhazi
3 – Caught My Eye (Angus Hall) – W. O’Donnell – F. O’Reilly
4 – Shipps Foxylady (San Pellegrino) – Ra. Waples – J. Kopas
5 – Maple Sugar (Malabar Maple) – T. Ritchie – S. Kerwood
6 – J M Aggie (Angus Hall) – J. Jamieson – C. Jamieson
7 – Carolyn AS (Striking Sahbra) – J. Moiseyev – A. Lorentzon
8 – Vanilla Rainbow (Mr Lavec) – R. Mayotte – M. Austin
9 – Movin Over (Royal Ballad) – T.B.A. – S. Beckley
10 – Psyche Unseen (Striking Sahbra) – M. Baillargeon – D. McIntosh
AE1 – Dynamic Lavec (Mr Lavec) – C. Christoforou, Jr. – R. Fellows
AE2 – All Time Favorite (Angus Hall) – P. MacDonell – M. Steacy
AE3 – Marta Maple (Malabar Maple) – T. Durand – T. Durand