Arts Star and Not Enough gave driver Mark MacDonald victories in both $40,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold Series eliminations on Friday evening at Western Fair Raceway.
Arts Star spent much of her two-year old campaign chasing St Lads Popcorn without success, but she would turn the tables on her rival in the first elimination.
MacDonald put Arts Star in the pocket behind St Lads Popcorn (Jason Brewer) as she blasted through at the rail and put up panels of 27.4, 57.4, and 1:28. The two fillies sprinted home hard in the stretch, and it was Arts Star using a 28.1 final kicker to get up for win by three-quarters of a length in 1:56.
St Lads Popcorn was second in her three-year old debut; Pantecostal (Mike Horner) was third, and Grin Goddess (Chris Christoforou) finished fourth.
Casie Coleman trains Arts Star, a daughter of Modern Art, for owners Steve Calhoun, Mike Lindley, and West Wins Stable. This was her first victory in two starts this year and her fourth career tally. She has now banked $21,150 in 2009 and $206,950 lifetime.
In the second elimination, rail starter Euphoria Seelster (Fred Jamieson) tried to make the lead, but couldn't handle the tricky first turn and made a break. That left Not Enough and MacDonald on the point at the 28.1 opening quarter with Northern Duchess (Mike Saftic) in the two-hole.
MacDonald would find a half in 58.1 and three-quarters in 1:26.1 while parking out Fashion Week (Dave Miller), who gave way on the far turn. That allowed Northern Duchess to escape off the rail to come after Not Enough, but MacDonald kept his charge going through the lane to score by one length in 1:55.1.
Northern Duchess was the runner-up; Fashion Week held on to third despite the rough trip and Windsong Filou (Jody Jamieson) finished fourth.
"She's a big strong filly," Joe Frasure, the assistant to trainer Tracy Brainard said. "We trained her up good the middle of the week. She just had a lot of racing luck tonight, and the other one (Fashion Week, who Brainard also trains) didn't."
Bulletproof Enterprises holds the ownership papers on Not Enough, a daughter of Grinfromeartoear. She is now a perfect two-for-two in the win column this year and five-for-nine in her career. The win boosted her earnings for the campaign to $31,500 and her life's bankroll to $73,200.
The field for the $130,000 Gold Final will line up like this next Friday night:
1. Windsong Filou
2. Northern Duchess
3. Pantecostal
4. Fashion Week
5. St Lads Popcorn
6. Arts Star
7. Grin Goddess
8. Not Enough
