The first leg of the Blossom Series gets underway this Friday at Woodbine Racetrack -- good timing for trainer Joey Shea, who likes the way his Marquise De Sarah is heading into the $18,000 event.

“She’s coming into the race as good as we can expect,” said Shea. “I trained her the other day and she trained very well, so we’ll see what the weekend brings.”

The daughter of Mach Three-Putnam Flyingbye has posted a 5-2-0 record from 10 starts, including two straight wins, and $53,600 in earnings for owner-breeder Robert Bridges of Campbellville, Ont.

Marquise De Sarah didn’t arrive at the Shea stable until last September.

“She was broke by Riina Rekila then moved over to Chad Milner,” explained Shea. “They decided to stop with her early as a two-year-old because she was ‘growthy’ and she needed to develop. I picked her up in September to get her ready to race and she’s been terrific since day one.”

Marquise De Sarah raced three times last season and sported a pair of wins along with a second-place finish, good for $23,000 in earnings.

Driver Phil Hudon has been the filly’s regular pilot throughout her 10 career starts.

“She was racing very well early on, but she was starting to get hot behind the gate and Phil and I talked and we decided to race her from behind and that worked out very well,” said Shea. “Now Phil’s able to race her any way he wants. He’s done a terrific job with her and we’re lucky to have him.”

Shea admires the qualities Marquise De Sarah possesses.

“She’s got a terrific attitude,” he said. “She loves beating other horses and can put up a fight. She’s a medium-size filly with a lot of speed and a big heart.”

The Blossom Series is for fillies who are non-winners of three races or $15,000 in 2012.

The second leg of the series is scheduled for Thursday, April 4, with the $60,000 final slated for Thursday, April 11.

The two divisions will line up as follows:

Race 1

1. Wildcat Hanna
2. In The Wheelhouse
3. Just One More
4. Russian Kisses
5. Seladia
6. Burning Beaches
7. Stellar Steel
8. Senorita Santanna

Race 4

1. Notalkingback
2. Belle Boyd
3. Air Miles Hanover
4. Marquise De Sarah
5. A And Gs Doll
6. Bride In A Box
7. Keep The Dream
8. Ok Fiesty
9. Angels Delight

To view Friday's harness racing entries, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.

(With files from WEG)