Driver Sylvain Filion opened the Snowshoe Series winning the first two divisions on Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
The first leg of the pacing series was comprised of four $16,000 divisions for three and four-year-olds that are non-winners of two races or $30,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2014.
Filion won the first division with 2-1 second choice Vegas Rich, who led through fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27 before crossing the wire in 1:55.3. Favourite P L Heavenly (Trevor Henry) was only able to make it up to the leader's saddle pad as he journeyed first over and finished one and three-quarter lengths behind in second while Dragon Seelster (Paul MacDonell) followed his cover for third prize.
Trainer Dave Gibson shares ownership of the four-year-old Million Dollar Cam gelding with breeder David Goodrow's stable and partner Glenn Tarver. Vegas Rich earned his second career win in 26 starts.
In the following division, Filion and 1-5 favourite Kindofabigdeal sat fourth through panels of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:26.2 before rallying home to score by three-quarters of a length in 1:56 flat. The Richard Moreau trainee prevailed over first up Ramblingamblinman (Rick Zeron) while late-closer Newbie (Randy Waples) edged out pacesetter Turbo Mach (Mike Saftic) for third.
Hudson Standardbred Stable's four-year-old No Pan Intended gelding, who earned top three finishes in the late-season Autumn Series and Valedictory Series last year, is now six-for-11 in his career with over $60,000 banked in purses.
Trainer Ben Wallace and co-owner Brad Grant's lightly raced four-year-old gelding Whistle Jimmy K delivered as the 4-5 favourite off a pocket trip in the third division with Jody Jamieson aboard. The son of Mach Three prevailed in 1:55.4 by one and a half lengths after wearing down American Island (Trevor Henry), who had led through fractions of :28.1, :57.1, 1:26 and into the stretch. Mittcent Vangogh (Chris Christoforou) finished third.
The win was the fourth in six career starts for Whistle Jimmy K and one of four on the 11-race card for the night's leading driver Jamieson.
Sent postward as the second choice, Decisive Destiny rallied home from third over to win the final and fastest Snowshoe division in 1:55.2 with Trevor Henry at the lines for trainer Shawn Robinson and owner Robert Hamather. The four-year-old homebred son of American Ideal now has four wins in 25 starts.
Chattanooga Jim (Jody Jamieson) led the field through opening panels of :27.4 and :57 and rebuffed an early challenge from the pocket-pulling D Gs Justlikethat (Sylvain Filion). Ys Lotus (Rick Zeron) then rushed up from fourth to confront the pacesetter en route to three-quarters in 1:25.4 with A Boy Named Suuzz (Jonathan Drury) fanning off his cover in the stretch. However, Decisive Destiny stormed by that rival late to win by three and half lengths. Bad Bug (James MacDonald) came on from the backfield to show.
During his four-win night, Jamieson also drove Marquise De Sarah to victory in this week's $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace in 1:54.2 over Putmeintogo (Sylvain Filion) and favourite Waasmula (Trevor Henry). David Menary trains the five-year-old Mach Three mare, who has now won three races in a row, for owner/breeder Robert Bridges.
Filion ended the night with three wins while Moreau and Robinson each had two.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.