Three-year-old pacers were the stars of the Monday evening show at Woodbine Racetrack as the oval hosted the opening legs of the Princess Series for the fillies and The Diplomat Series for the colts and geldings.
Belle Boyd took on eight foes in the lone division of the Princess Series, and she didn’t disappoint an army of backers that sent her off as the 1-5 favourite in the $20,000 tilt.
Jody Jamieson got away fifth with the daughter of Art Major-Yankee Luck while Beach Of A Time hustled to the lead and chopped out a first quarter in :27.4. Marquise De Sarah pocket-pulled in the second quarter and brushed to the front en route to setting the half-mile speed of :57.4. Super Soph came first-over heading into the final turn, and Belle Boyd was positioned on her back.
Marquise De Sarah led by a half-length margin over Super Soph at the three-quarter pole in 1:27, but Super Soph surged to the lead as the field entered the lane. Belle Boyd swung off cover, however, and used a :26.1 closing quarter to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Super Soph in 1:53.3. Marquise De Sarah weakened late and finished third.
Trainer Carl Jamieson of Princeton shares ownership on the youngster with Joanne Morrison of Beeton and Thomas Kyron of Toronto, ON, and collectively they’ve watched the pacing lass stash away more than $100,000 in lifetime earnings. She’s now 5-for-5 this season and 6-for-16 in her career.
Varadero Hanover, fresh off a second-place finish in the $37,000 final of the Youthful Series, was a first-over winner in the lone division of The Diplomat Series for the tandem of driver Scott Zeron and trainer Richard Moreau.
The son of Somebeachsomewhere-Vaudeville Margie got away fourth while stablemate Slight Touch roared to the lead and supplied the group with an opening panel of :26.3. Race favourite and recent Youthful Series-sweeping Classic Gent went on the attack in the backstretch, and he cleared shortly past the mid-way point in :56.2. He was still in charge at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1, but Varadero Hanover was gobbling up ground from first-over.
Varadero Hanover used a :26.4 closing quarter to surge to the lead and draw clear by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:52.1. The previously undefeated Rockin Wizard was a fast-closing second. Classic Gent, who was 9-for-9 this season going into Monday’s assignment, had to settle for third.
It was the second win of the season in three tries for Varadero Hanover who is owned by Reg & Louise Petitpas, Geoffrey Lauzon and Dr. Ruth Irving. The colt, who went 1-for-8 last season, has stashed away earnings in excess of $60,000 to date.
Monday’s program also saw Star Ruffnready turn in a 1:53 performance in a $20,000 conditioned event, and in doing so he tied Burnin Money as the fastest trotter in Canada this season.
Mike Saftic engineered the winning trip for the James Lamacchia-trained son of Armbro Winner-Star Wild Orchid. The eight-year-old gelding, who is owned by Pepiniere Nicky Inc and Lewis Murphy of QC, won for the first time this season and for the 20th time in his career. The classy campaigner has banked more than $532,000 to date.
Later on the card Take My Picture lowered the national season’s record with a 1:52.3 score in the $34,000 Preferred Trot for the duo of driver Jack Moiseyev and trainer John Drennan.
The six-year-old son of Classic Photo-Habits Lady got away fourth and watched Hesgotlegs serve up first-half fractions of :27.2 and :56.4. Moiseyev pulled the trigger shortly past the mid-way point with Take My Picture, who prompted Hesgotlegs to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4. Take My Picture used a :27.3 closing panel to edge away to the win by a half-length margin over Hesgotlegs, with Watkins settling for third.
Joe & Laurie Davino of Clarksburg, NJ own the 18-time winner, who owns a 5-1-1 record from 11 starts this season. The $17,000 payday boosted the gelding’s career earnings to $725,832.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.