Last week at Woodbine Racetrack, Murray Brethour pupil Designated Leader was unbeatable in the first leg of the Damsel Pacing Series for three and four-year-old pacing fillies and mares. Can the daughter of No Pan Intended repeat?

Consistency hasn’t exactly been the watchword for this talented, but somewhat erratic mare. In the recent Blizzard Pacing Series at Woodbine, she scored a second and a third in the preliminary legs, yet was a disappointing sixth in the final. In Designated Leader's four starts before the Damsel opener, she enjoyed one trip to the winner’s circle, two third-place finishes, and was once a trailing ninth.

On the strength of her last effort, however, she has been designated the 2-1 morning line favourite for her next test. Designated Leader will have to watch out, however, for Rip Rockin Lady, one of three entries from the shed row of Todd Buter.

Like Designated Leader, Rip Rockin Lady was a winner in a Damsel division last week. Unlike Designated Leader, Rip Rockin Lady has had a couple of months’ rest since she captured the $44,200 final of the Niagara Pacing Series in December. She seems fresh and keen.

Designated Leader and Rip Rockin Lady will match up in the second of the two $35,000 Damsel splits on Thursday, March 19 (Race 6, 9:05 p.m.).

Buter’s other two candidates are entered in the first of the two Damsel splits (Race 2, 7:49 p.m.). Rated collectively at 8-5, Park Avenue and Gottogetoutmore are both, like Rip Rockin Lady, daughters of Michigan sire Keystone Raider. Both had decent results in the series opener, coming fourth and third, respectively. They’ll face a challenge, however, from morning line favourite, B M Mcw, who despite her third-place finish last week has been given morning line odds of 2-1.

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(With files from WEG)