The last stakes final of the 2008 season goes postward at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday night, and it features a potential duel between two razor-sharp three-year-old pacing fillies, Windsong Experanza and Paper Cut.
The former was riding a six-race winning streak before she turned in an uncharacteristically lackluster performance in the first leg of the Niagara Pacing Series (for non-winners of $50,000 lifetime, as of October 31) on December 15. The Rick MacNeill trainee rebounded, however, to win the second leg on December 22 by three-quarters of a length over Rip Rockin Lady.
Paper Cut, meanwhile, has been second and third in her two initial tries in the Niagara Series, but the winner in both of those events, Aqua Rosa, has been scratched from the $44,200 final due to a lameness issue, giving Paper Cut a fresh opportunity to strut her stuff for new trainer Brian Lee.
Windsong Experanza has the advantage of having drawn Post 2 in the eight-filly field, and will have Mark MacDonald guiding her for the second time. She has been rated the 5-2 favourite, while Paper Cut, the 7-2 second choice, will leave from Post 5 with Phil Hudon in the bike.
The Niagara Pacing Series final is Race 7 tonight, post time 9:25 p.m. Racing at Woodbine will resume on New Years Day, with a special matinee card beginning at 1:20 p.m.
To view Monday’s entries, click here.
(WEG)