Favourites Theta Blue Chip and Pebble Creek both turned in impressive victories their respective divisions in the opening leg of the Ontario Spring Series for three-year-old fillies on Monday night

at Woodbine Racetrack.

Theta Blue Chip, making her first start of the season, rallied from off-the-pace to capture the first $20,000 split for driver Paul MacDonell in 1:55.4. The daughter of Western Terror-Magical Pride easily turned back Nifty Ace by three lengths with Intrewishon landing the show spot. The winner returned $3.40 as the bettors’ choice.

“The main thing we wanted to do tonight was get a clean trip into her, said MacDonell. “She’s not easy; she’s got a bit of a temper to her and I think if she was rushed into something she didn’t want to do it might not turn out so good for her. It turned out to be a perfectly clean trip and she responded nicely; even better than I thought she would.”

Theta Blue Chip is owned and trained by Gordon Irwin who also campaigned double-millionaire Invitro along with last year’s O’Brien Award-winning Bigtime Ball. The filly, who was a $105,000 yearling purchase at Harrisburg, is now two-for-three lifetime.

In the second split, Pebble Creek - making her first start since winning the Silver Reign Series final on March 22nd - scored a hard-fought victory for driver Mike Saftic in 1:55. The daughter of Modern Art-Hayser Creek came first-over and eventually wore down Manvers Short Cut by a head with first-time starter Smokin N Grinin rounding out the top three.

The winner kicked back $4.40 as the top choice in the wagering.

“The dam [Hayser Creek] was a good mare; she was a good Sires Stakes filly and made about $200,000 back then and hopefully this mare can follow in her footsteps,” said Saftic. “I didn’t want to come so quick tonight, but there was someone laying on the outside of me and I had to move coming out of the turn. Steve [Condren - driving Manvers Short Cut] and I hooked up early and it was a good horse race down to the wire. That filly will get a little better with another start under her belt, but so will we; so we’ll see what happens.”

Pebble Creek now has five wins in nine starts this season for Barry and Debbie Bird who also bred the filly along with Cyril Hayes of Burlington, Ontario. The victory boosted her career bankroll to just over $100,000.

The Ontario Spring Series will continue with second-round action next Thursday night at Woodbine.

(WEG)

To view Monday’s results, click here.