Sophomore pacer Big League stretched his unbeaten win streak to nine with a front end victory in his $20,000 first leg division of the Snowshoe Pacing Series on Monday night at Woodbine Racetrack
. The series is for three and four-year-old colts and geldings that are non-winners of two races or $20,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2011.
Big League left from Post 4 in his division with Jody Jamieson in the sulky and cleared to command past the :27.3 opening quarter mark. He led the field past the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:26.4 before opening up daylight on his foes. The undefeated colt cruised home in :28.3 to record the 1:55.2 victory with 50-1 longshots Piston Broke (Sylvain Filion) and Lucky Flier (Keith Oliver) rallying home from the backfield for second and third-place honours.
The Maritime stakes champion was recently purchased by the Let It Ride Stables Inc., Robert Cooper Stables LLC, Dana Parham, and Jerry Silva. Tony O'Sullivan now trains the Four Starzzz Shark-Bolero Tam Tam colt, who has banked $43,440 lifetime. The 2-5 favourite paid $2.90 to win.
O'Sullivan also won an earlier division with four-year-old gelding Wizard Of Art. Scott Zeron worked out the winning trip for the Art Major-Imustbedreamin gelding.
Wizard Of Art sat sixth through fractions of :28, :57 and 1:25.2, which were set by even-money favourite Wisher (Randy Waples). Zeron positioned Wizard Of Art third-over around the final turn before coming on in deep stretch to score the 1:56 victory by three-quarters of a length. Pictonians Matador (Billy Davis Jr.) finished second with Pisti (Keith Oliver) rounding out the triactor.
Wizard Of Art, now three-for-five in his career, increased his bankroll to $29,450 for owner Joseph Martinelli of Staten Island, New York. He paid $9.50 to win as the 7-2 second choice.
Zeron found the winner’s circle again in the first leg of the series as he guided the Jason Robinson-trained Cobalt Man to victory in 1:55.4.
Sent off as the even-money favourite, Cobalt Man sat in the pocket behind Arthur (Jody Jamieson) through fractions of :28, :58 and 1:27.1. First-over attacker Giddy Up Blackfly (Billy Davis Jr.) gained the upper hand in the stretch, but Cobalt Man rallied home in :28.2 to prevail by two and a half lengths. Giddy Up Blackfly stayed for second and Emerging Grin (Chris Christoforou) finished third.
Owned by Robert Main of McDonald, Pennsylvania, Cobalt Man increased his lifetime earnings to $70,335 as he celebrated his seventh career victory in 33 starts. The Rocknroll Hanover-Lady Indigo gelding paid $4.10 to win.
After capturing the $60,000 Autumn Stakes final in his most recent outing, Modern Legend returned to victory lane in the other division with Jack Moiseyev piloting for trainer-owner David Drew of St. Catharines, Ont.
Moiseyev and the four-year-old Modern Art-Ruby Cam gelding sprinted to command during the :26.4 opening quarter and cruised past middle fractions of :56 and 1:25.2 en route to victory in 1:54. Weigh The Odds (Paul MacDonell) finished three and a half lengths behind in second with Western Bandit (Chris Christoforou) rounding out the triactor.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, Modern Legend earned his sixth win in 10 starts and lifted his career earnings to $86,085. He paid $2.30 to win.
The companion Blizzard Pacing Series for fillies and mares also kicked off on Monday night with three $20,000 divisions.
Four-year-old Dream Outloud and Randy Waples converted from a perfect pocket-trip to capture the first division at odds of 8-1.
Shine N Shimmer (Jack Moiseyev) front-stepped her way through fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:27 before Dream Outloud was given clear racetrack and responded to score the three-quarter length victory in 1:56.2. Shine N Shimmer stayed for second over the hard-closing even-money favourite, Bee Fullof Steinam (Jason Brewer).
The Bettors Delight-Treasure For Trish mare increased her lifetime earnings to $58,010 for trainer Travis Umphrey and owner-breeder Dr. Fred Kruszelnicki of Brooks, Alta. while notching second career victory in 25 starts. She paid $18.10 for the mild upset.
Niagara Stakes runner-up D Gs Tinkerbell and driver Luc Ouellette didn’t disappoint the betting public as they cruised to victory in the second division as the even-money favourites.
After leaving from the trailing post position 11, D Gs Tinkerbell sat fifth behind the early speed of :28.2 and :58 before making a brush to the lead before three-quarters in 1:27. From there, the daughter of Cambest and Bolero Ultima was under a comfortable hand-drive from Ouellette as she cruised to a three and three-quarter length victory in 1:56.2. Early leader Artistic Music (Jack Moiseyev) finished second over Carly Hollywood (Sylvain Filion).
Guylaine Fortin trains and co-owns the winner of seven races in 15 starts and $62,161 with Daniel Surprenant of Saint-Valentin, Que. She paid $4 to win.
At odds of 61-1, Ms Curator and catch-driver Billy Davis Jr. lit up the toteboard in the final division as they got up in in the final strides for the 1:56.3 triumph.
Machleen (Randy Waples) was the early leader, but Cocoa Beach (Aaron Byron) was pulled from the pocket and taken to the front past the :27.3 opening panel. That mare maintained the lead, hitting the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:26.3. However, at the top of the stretch, Cocoa Beach began to tire as the backfield was closing in. In deep stretch, five horses were across the track looking for top honours, but it was Ms Curator who found the wire first, winning by a neck. Cards That Count (Keith Oliver) finished second over favourite The Summer Wind (Scott Zeron). Rock Ann Rolling (Sylvain Filion) and Machleen were right there in fourth and fifth.
Ian Reid trains and co-owns the four-year-old Art Major-Miss Jeki miss with James Smith of Guelph, Ont. The winner of four races in 40 starts lifted her bankroll to $69,790. She returned $125.90 for the upset.
The Snowshoe and Blizzard Pacing Series will continue on Thursday, January 12.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Monday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)