It was cold and blustery Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, and fittingly the program featured an event custom made for that type of night - the Blizzard Series.
The opening leg featured a trio of $16,000 divisions for the three- and four-year-old distaffers.
Artistic Fusion drew first blood in the three-week series thanks to her dominant performance for the tandem of driver Sylvain Filion and Joe Agostino.
Filion quarter pole-moved his charge from second to first in the eight-horse affair, and once the favourite cleared to the top it was game over for the others. She cruised through middle splits of :58 and 1:27 before punching home in :29.1. She won by 7-3/4 lengths over Deuces For Charity in 1:56.1. Third prize was earned by Docs Hollywood.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Artistic Fusion won for the seventh time for owner Mike Foote of Venice, Florida. The four-year-old daughter of Artistic Fella-Kendal Bullet bumped her overall bankroll to $78,557 with the win.
A Fearless Affair turned a two-hole trip into a solid-looking score in the second division for the duo of driver Simon Allard and trainer Shawn Robinson.
Allard stalked race favourite Badlands Love through fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:27 before blowing by the tempo-setter and drawing off to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:55.4. Badlands Love held on for the runner-up award, while the show dough went to Onyourmarknatava.
Bob Hamather of Exeter, Ontario bred and owns the four-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Fearless Flight. It was the fourth lifetime tally for the pacing lass who upped her cash stash to $51,400 with the victory.
Mappos Moenhay captured the final division in gate-to-wire fashion for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Jean Guy Belliveau. The four-year-old daughter of Real Desire-Pacific Playmate led through intervals of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:28.3 before finishing off her foes with a :29-second closing quarter. She prevailed in 1:57.3 over the late-rushing All The Ladies, with third prize going to race favourite P L Hurricane.
Carol and Hailee Campbell of Baddeck, Nova Scotia own the eight-time winner who now boasts a bankroll that stands at $42,324.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.