Early Secret adds Trillium trophy to collection

LONDON, MAY 31, 2002 - Western Fair Raceway fans were at their handicapping best on Friday night, accurately selecting the winners of all three Trillium Series divisions for the sophomore trotting fillies.

Fans sent Ava Hall, Early Secret and Curitiba off as their first choice in Races 1, 4, and 7 and all three fillies delivered the goods.

Ava Hall opened the stakes laden program with a victory in Race 1, stopping the clock in 2:02.2 off a wire-to-wire effort. Wayne Henry drove the Royal Strength daughter to the one and a half length win over Gramolas Image and Great Garland for his father Ross Henry and numbered company 1035840 Ontario Inc. of Arthur.

Fans used the filly's May 4 victory at Western Fair as the basis for their selection and Ava Hall did not disappoint, lowering her season best time by almost two seconds.

In the fourth race local favourite Early Secret snatched a narrow victory away from Jills Gem. Leaving from Post 2 Early Secret and driver-trainer Paul Walker sat second on the rail behind Smoky Sunset throughout most of the mile before squeezing out through the stretch and holding off a charging Jills Gem for the 2:01.1 win. Smoky Sunset held on for third.

William Loyens of London and Malcolm MacPhail of Dover Centre own Early Secret, who improved her 2002 record to two wins and one second in three starts this season. Loyens also bred the Earl daughter, who has banked $187,167 for the partners in her career.

The final Trillium division went to American-bred filly Curitiba, who romped to a ten and a half length 2:02 victory. A daughter of American Winner, Curitiba is owned by Peter Heffering of Port Perry, David Reid of Kingston and Stan Klemencic of Trenton. Mark Steacy trains the winner of $128,593, and Richard Simard directed her from Post 1 to the winner's circle on Friday.

Victorian Lady and Brylin Starlet trailed in behind Curitiba to take home the second and third-place finisher's share of the $20,347 purse.

Curitiba's win warmed up the crowd for the Molson Export Invitational Pace in Race 8 and Park Place delivered an impressive victory, coming within one-fifth of a second of the track record with his 1:53.4 triumph over Mr Brown and Scott Is A Leader.

The three-year-old trotting fillies will part company in the coming weeks as the Gold Series competitors head for Woodbine Racetrack on June 15 and the Grassroots misses compete at Sarnia's Hiawatha Horse Park on July 13. They will congregate at Quinte Raceway in Belleville on June 28 for the second of three Trillium Series events on the 2002 schedule.

Ontario Sires Stakes action does not return to Western Fair Raceway until the half-mile oval opens its doors for the 2002 fall meet. The three-year-old pacing fillies on Oct. 11 will be the first of five OSS events Western Fair will host in during October and November.