Woodbine Harness: Gingras takes three; JK She'salady, Mission Brief win

Driver Yannick Gingras showed up at Woodbine Racetrack on Friday night to drive a quartet of fillies in stakes eliminations and almost left with a clean sweep. He guided JK She’salady, Mission Brief, and Gatka Hanover flawlessly as The Show Returns nipped him at the wire in his lone defeat.

In the first of two C$25,000 Three Diamonds eliminations for rookie pacing fillies, Gingras was patient as usual with the undefeated JK She’salady. He watched as Happy Becky posted slow fractions of 28 4/5 and 58 3/5 before making his move on the final turn.

Once pointed to the rim, Jk She’salady quickly gained the lead and sprinted home for the easy victory in 1:53 3/5 over pocket-sitter Solar Sister and Happy Becky. Float On By and Shakai Hanover also advanced to the final.

The 3 Brothers-owned JK She’salady is now unbeaten in nine career starts for trainer Nancy Johansson. She will be the prohibitive favorite in next Saturday’s C$424,000 final.

[DRF HARNESS: Sign Up for the FREE newly designed DRF Harness Newsletter!]

The second division of the Three Diamonds saw Gingras on the lead with Band Of Angels through fractions of 27 2/5, 56 1/5, and 1:25 as The Show Returns pulled the pocket in the stretch to challenge. Those two battled home with The Show Returns edging past late for the 1:53 1/5 score. Ideal Nuggets was third ahead of Rock Her World and Zip Code Envy to make the final.

The Show Returns is owned by Richard and Joanne Young. The full sister of champion filly Put On A Show is trained by Chris Ryder.

Mission Brief did nothing to disprove her status as one of the most talented 2-year-old trotters in history with a stress-free victory in her C$25,000 split of the Goldsmith Maid eliminations.

Gingras guided Mission Brief around fellow leaver Danielle Hall just past the 27 3/5 opening quarter and idled through a soft middle half in 58 3/5 while facing some pressure from the first-over Stubborn Belle.

The final margin of victory was only 1 1/4 lengths over Danielle Hall, but the talented Ron Burke-trained daughter of Muscle Hill was well in hand and barely broke a sweat while winning in 1:54 4/5.

Tymal Illbethere, Stubborn Belle, and Demons N Diamonds also made the final.

Mission Brief is owned by Burke Racing Stable LLC, Our Horse Cents Stable, and J and T Silva Stables. She has accumulated seven wins in 10 starts in her rookie season on the track.

The second Goldsmith Maid elim also went to Gingras with 6-1 longshot Gatka Hanover. The Muscle Massive-sired filly was coming off three consecutive breaks but showed no signs of trouble in her wire-to-wire 1:55 4/5 score.

The 1-2 favored Jolene Jolene was second ahead of fellow finalists Juanitas Fury, Smexi, and Flirting Filly.

Gatka Hanover is trained by Ron Burke for his Burke Racing, Our Horse Cents Stable, Tracy Hendler, and Weaver Bruscemi. She has five wins in 11 starts this year.

All of the Goldsmith Maid finalists will return for the C$464,000 finale on October 25.