The weatherman says a blizzard could touch down in the area on Saturday, but there was a Blizzard sighting Thursday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park as the oval featured round one of the Blizzard Series for female pacers.
Protect Blue Chip rallied to a 1:55.4 triumph in her $17,000 division for the tandem of driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Jeff Gillis.
The four-year-old daughter of American Ideal-Lucky Turn was treated to a two-hole trip behind Shes On A Roll. That foe produced panels of :28.1, :58.4 and 1:27.1 before overtaken in deep stretch. Protect Blue Chip found a late seam and kicked home in :28.2 to win by a head over Charms Little Sis in 1:55.4. Heavily favoured Sand Artist closed up late to finish a lapped-on third.
Sent off at odds of 8-1, Protect Blue Chip won for the first time this season and for the third time in her career. The lion’s share of the loot lifted her bankroll to $45,788. She is owned by NLG Racing Stable of Walkill, NY.
Springbridgevision had a similar trip in the second division, and her ground-saving journey helped her rally to a 1:55 triumph for driver James MacDonald and trainer Andrew Moore.
The three-year-old daughter of Shadow Play-Stonebridge Vision, who was sent off at odds of 5-1, got away fifth in the early going while Cosette shot to the top and cut the opening quarter in :28.1. Shadow Sparks moved from third in the backstretch, and cleared to the top before carving out the half-mile clocking in :57.3.
Shadow Sparks was still in charge at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.4, but her strides started to shorten as the backfield came to life. MacDonald angled off the rail when room opened up in the lane, and Springbridgevision unleashed a strong, closing kick to win by two lengths over Cosette. Race favourite Lyons Hedgeabet closed late to salvage a third-place finish.
Trainer Moore shares ownership on the filly with Allan Moore, Tommy Godfrey and Charles Farrell. The partners watched the pacing lass nab her third lifetime win while pushing her overall cash stash to $17,273 with the triumph.
Another filly drawing plenty of attention on the Thursday evening program was the Bob McIntosh-trained Sunny Dee, who won her pari-mutuel debut in an overnight event in a time of 1:56.
Trevor Henry brushed to the lead in the backstretch with Sunny Dee, who took the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:28.2 before kicking home in :27.3 to win by nearly two lengths.
The daughter of Sunshine Beach-West Of L A, who is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Al McIntosh Holdings Inc, is a half-sister to L A Delight (1:49.1 - $1,782,999) and a three-quarter sister to Somewhere In L A (1:48.4 - $1,608,565).
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Mohawk Park.