Former O'Brien Award winner Monkey On My Wheel made her 2013 debut a winning one with a 1:52 front-stepping score in Friday's featured $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack.
Driven by Keith Oliver, Monkey On My Wheel worked her way to the lead from the outside post eight into a :26.4 opening panel before taking a second quarter breather in the week's top female class. The 4-5 favourite rolled through middle splits of :56.3 and 1:24.3 while Docs Hope (Jason Brewer) advanced first over from fifth.
Monkey On My Wheel turned for home with Docs Hope looming to her outside before engaging in a deep stretch duel. Meanwhile, pocket-sitter Didrickson (Doug McNair) and third over Greystone Ladylike (Scott Zeron), last week's Preferred winner, rallied wide. However, Monkey On My Wheel held on by half a length to win in 1:52 while Didrickson edged past Docs Hope for second. Greystone Ladylike was right there in fourth on the far outside.
Monkey On My Wheel entered the race off a pair of qualifying wins and paid $3.90 for the triumph.
The Mach Three mare, who continued a late 2012 win streak notching her fourth victory in a row, is owned by breeder Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont., trainer Travis Umphrey of Guelph, Ont., and Timothy Kane of St. Albert, Alta.
She now boasts 16 wins on her lifetime record and went over $1.2 million in career earnings.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.