The first leg of the Oxford County late-closing three-week series for male pacers three years old and up kicked off on Saturday afternoon at Woodstock Raceway with six $10,000 divisions

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Jody Jamieson scored a series double, which included a win in the fastest division with the Kevin O’Reilly trained Whispers Art in 1:57. The three-year-old son of Modern Art rolled to the front before the half and battled with Great Luck (Mike Sumner) past the third quarter station, but Whispers Art, the odds-on favourite, pressed on and pulled away by five lengths for the victory.

Great Luck was the runner-up with Smiling Image (Trevor Henry) finishing third.

The win was the bay gelding’s fourth in eight starts for the Vintage Stable of Amherst, Ohio.

Jamieson also guided Goingnowherefast to a three-length score in 1:59 in wire-to-wire fashion. The four-year-old son of Artsplace won for the first time in his career for trainer Louie Eftimiadis and the Howe Good R They Stable of Newmarket, Ont.

Driver Bruce Richardson also won two divisions in the series and his first came aboard Neighsayer, who used front-end tactics to prevail in 1:59 by three lengths. The sophomore son of Million Dollar Cam has won five times in his career for trainer Bud Sinclair, who shares ownership with Lindsey Sinclair of Stratford and Leona Amos of Guelph, Ont.

Richardson was back in the bike for a win with Montanez, who rallied from off the pace to score in 1:58 for trainer James Ritchie, who co-owns with Paul Ritchie of Orangeville and Terry Taylor of Fergus, Ont. The three-year-old Western Maverick colt has recorded four wins and four seconds in 10 career starts.

The pocket-sitting Premium Bliss nosed out the pacesetter Sign Of Fame (Mark Williams) for a 16-1 upset in the first split for driver Mike Whelan and trainer Walter Whelan. The three-year-old son of Heartbeat Mindale broke his maiden in 1:59 for breeder Charles Bennett of Tottenham, who co-owns with Thelma O’Connor of Freelton, Ont.

Larry The Legend won his division with Anthony Haughan in the bike. Trained by Meg Crone, the three-year-old son of Camotion laid down all the fractions en route to his fourth win in five starts clocked in 1:59.4. He is owned by the Wilson Racing Stable Inc. of Marshall, Illinois and David Yohe of Lima, Ohio.

The second leg of the series featuring $10,000 divisions is set for next Saturday and the $25,000 (added) final will take place on Saturday, June 27.

In other action, Slaley used front-end tactics to get the job done in the $16,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace also featured on the Saturday program.

With Jody Jamieson in the bike, the four-year-old daughter of Grinfromeartoear left from Post 4 and maintained a two-length lead on the field through panels of :27.3, :56.2 and 1:25. The odds-on favourite then pulled away by four and three-quarter lengths to win in 1:53.4.

Victim Of Love (Brad Forward) and Minniewin (Stephen Lees) finished second and third.

Trained by Bill Robinson for owners Gerrie Tucker of Montreal, Que. and Ian Fromowitz of Richmond Hill, Ont., Slaley won for the second time in nine outings giving her $17,240 in purse earnings so far this year. The winner of 14 races has banked a total of $148,877 in her career.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.