Lauren battles to Gold victory in Ottawa

Ontario’s talented two-year-old pacing fillies put on a brilliant show for Rideau Carleton Raceway fans on Sunday evening, as the top three finishers engaged in a high speed battle down the stretch to finish less than a length apart.

 

After her impressive effort in the slop last week, Rideau Carleton fans awarded elimination winner Bunkhouse Babe the position as favourite in spite of her outside starting post. Driver Steve Condren made it clear that he agreed with their assessment, firing the filly off the starting gate into an early fight for control with Village Janus. Village Janus rang up the :27 opening quarter, but had to concede to Bunkhouse Babe before the :56 half.

 

Bunkhouse Babe continued to lead the field through the 1:25.2 three-quarters, with Lyons Puddin Pie pressing the pace from the outside and Village Janus sitting happily in the pocket. Turning for home the fan favourite had a one length lead, but Shipps Xanadu had circled around the fading Lyons Puddin Pie and brought elimination winner — and Bunkhouse Babe’s stablemate — Lauren along for the ride.

 

Condren and Bunkhouse Babe battled tooth and nail down the stretch, but they were eventually reeled in by the challengers. The 1:55.4 victory went to Lauren by a neck, with Shipps Xanadu second and Bunkhouse Babe three-quarters of a length back in third.

 

Greely, ON resident Ted McDonald crafted the come from behind trip aboard Lauren for trainer Bob McIntosh and owners Gordon and Claudia Wright of Charlotte, MI. The Wright’s also bred the daughter of Modern Art and One Cadet, who has just one loss in six starts through the first two months of her racing career.

 

McIntosh warmed the talented young pacer up for her Ontario Sires Stakes debut with one overnight event and three starts in the Whenuwishuponastar Series at Mohawk Racetrack. Lauren suffered her only loss in the July 29 Whenuwishuponastar final when she made a miscue at the three-quarter marker. Her 1:53 personal best came in the second leg of the series on July 22.

 

Lauren shared the trailer ride to Ottawa with Bunkhouse Babe, who also hails from the Bob McIntosh stable, giving the Hall of Fame horseman a serious one-two punch in the freshman pacing filly division this season. The fillies will make their third Gold Series appearance on Sept. 18 at Mohawk Racetrack.

 

Ontario Sires Stakes excitement continues at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Friday, Aug. 20 when the two-year-old trotting colts arrive in the nation’s capital for their third Gold Series event. All eyes will be on local colt Buckhams Bay, who has been flawless through four Gold starts this season. John Smith of Woodlawn bred, owns and trains the gifted son of Ken Warkentin. Post positions for Friday’s Gold Eliminations will be drawn on Tuesday, Aug. 17. (OSS)