Dundas, ON — Ontario’s top 3-year-old pacing fillies waged an epic battle at Flamboro Downs on Sunday night (Sept. 22) as they wrapped up their Gold Series regular season in a single $118,500 division.

Top point earners Sunny Dee, Boadicea and Powerful Chris lined up in the 10-filly field and when the gate swung away all three were mixing it up through a sharp :26.3 opening quarter. Thats Incredible took a brief turn on the lead, followed by Summer Charm, but it was Sunny Dee who clocked the first fraction. Powerful Chris followed Sunny Dee away from the gate, keeping Boadicea out three-wide through the first turn before yielding to the fan favorite.

Sunny Dee rocketed around Flamboro Downs to a track and Ontario Sires Stakes record 1:51.1 victory. Racehorsephoto.

Boadicea matched strides with Sunny Dee going by the :54 half, but driver Trevor Henry was able to regain a length advantage in the turn. Heading by the 1:22.2 three-quarters Boadicea again pressed the leader, but on the final turn Henry hit the accelerator and Sunny Dee turned for home with a clear advantage which she extended to two lengths by the 1:51.1 finish. Boadicea was an impressive second for driver Jonathan Drury and trainer Bill Budd and Summer Charm finished third for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Dave Menary.

“I didn’t really think Billy’s (Budd) horse might get around the turns as good as she does on the big track. Half-mile racing’s a little different than mile racing,” said Henry of his race strategy. “Sunny Dee’s so good gaited I knew she wouldn’t have a problem.

“I tried to get away on JD (Drury) in the last turn because I knew his was struggling on the turns, so I got a few lengths on him. His horse raced well too, she was out the whole way and still was second, she’s a hell of a filly too.”

The 1:51.1 clocking was an Ontario Sires Stakes and Flamboro Downs track record. The previous track record of 1:52 was set by Michelles Power in 2007, while the former Ontario Sires Stakes record of 1:52.2 was established by Chancey Lady at The Raceway at Western Fair District in 2008.

Bob McIntosh trains Sunny Dee and his partners Al McIntosh Holdings Inc. C S X Stables also bred the filly, who is a half-sister to $1.7 million winner Somewhere in L A and $1.4 million winner L A Delight.

Henry has driven Sunny Dee in all but one of her 18 lifetime starts and the pair was also victorious in the June 1 Gold Series season opener at Woodbine Mohawk Park. The Sunshine Beach filly was second twice and third once in her other three Gold Series starts, giving her a total of 162 points and ownership of third spot in the division standings behind Boadicea and Powerful Chris. The top 10 point earners will now begin preparations for the C$225,000 Super Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Oct. 12.

“It’s a good field of fillies. It’s a pretty tight bunch, they’ve raced tough all summer,” said Henry of the top point earners, adding that the championship will likely come down to racing luck. “It’ll definitely be the best trip, I think.”

The Ontario Sires Stakes program makes one more stop at Flamboro Downs before the regular season comes to a close. The Dundas half-mile will host the 2-year-old trotting fillies on Wednesday (Oct. 2) for their last Gold Series event.