Twenty-three sophomore fillies did battle in a trio of $20,000 divisions of the Blossom Series on Monday at Woodbine Racetrack, and it wasn’t a great night for the favourites

St Lads Penny Lane pulled off a 6-1 upset in the opening division for the tandem of driver Doug McNair and trainer Otis Hall, and in doing so she improved her lifetime record to 6-1-0 in seven tries.

The daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Imagine worked out a second-over trip behind the speed that was supplied by race favourite Hope For Paddy. That filly threw down fractions of :27.1 and :56.3 before coming under pressure from Jamie Sue around the final turn. Hope For Paddy hit the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1, but she was no match for St Lads Penny Lane in the closing strides. St Lads Penny Lane used a :28.2 final frame to win by half a length over Air Guitar Hanover in 1:54.4. Machleen was third, with Hope For Paddy fading to finish fourth.

“She is still very green and has a lot to learn, but I think she will keep getting better and better,” said McNair following the win. “Those were good horses she beat. I think she will be even better next week.”

Nasussito Racing Inc of Ayr and Sauble Hill Farms of Tara, Ont. share ownership on the photogenic pacer who upped her lifetime earnings to $53,000 with the victory.

St Lads Morgan survived a first-over journey en route to winning the second split in a time of 1:56.1 for trainer/driver Rick Zeron. Race favourite Jet Hot Stuff marched to the lead and set fractions of :28 and :57 before feeling first-over pressure from St Lads Morgan at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.3. St Lads Morgan’s :29.1 final quarter was more than enough to earn her the two-length win over Shes All Good in 1:56.1. Albanian Era rallied to finish third.

“She really surprised me,” said Zeron. “I knew she was a nice filly, but she stepped up her game and showed me that she is that kind of a filly.”

Percy Elkins of Campbellville, Ont. owns the daughter of Mach Three-Montana Bound, who won for the first time this season and for the second time in her career. The $10,000 payday boosted her lifetime earnings to $45,100.

Mach A Wish extended her winning streak to four-in-a-row thanks to her career-best score of 1:53.4 in the final division. Scott Zeron engineered the off-the-pace score for the photogenic filly, who parked past the quarter in :28 before clearing to the top. She then took a back seat to Stage It Right through middle splits of :56.4 and 1:25.1, but she re-emerged in the stretch and used a :28.2 kicker to win by 1-1/4 lengths over race favourite Yagonnakissmeornot. Third prize went to Stage It Right.

“Around the last turn I was able to find room to squeak out down the lane and she really just took off for me,” said Zeron. “I was very impressed with her and hopefully she can do the same thing next week.”

Trainer Tony O’Sullivan shares ownership on the four-time winner with David Goodrow Stable of Cambridge, Ont. The filly, who was unraced as a rookie, has banked $32,530 in her first five assignments. This was her second start since being purchased privately by her current connections.

(With quotes from WEG)

To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.