Three divisions of the Snowshoe Series went postward Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, and it turned out to be a good night for the favourites.
Hopiesdragninthedo kicked off the opening leg of the series with a 1:55 tally in his $15,000 division for the tandem of driver Anthony MacDonald and trainer Carmen Auciello. Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, Hopiesdragninthedo sat second to the quarter pole before marching to the top and knifing out middle splits of :56.2 and 1:25.1. He came under heavy pressure from race favourite Brother John around the final turn, but he fended off that challenger by three-quarters of a length. Greystone Moe rallied to finish third.
Carolyn Jerrell of Roslin and Arlene MacIntyre of Frankford, Ontario share ownership on the four-year-old son of Dragon Again-Dont Lose Hope who won for just the second time in his career. The gelding is just shy of $30,000 in lifetime earnings.
Ontario Success was sent off as the even-money choice in the second division, and he didn’t disappoint his army of backers. Despite being interfered with in the late stages of the mile, the four-year-old son of Lis Mara-Loving Successor rallied to win by 1-3/4 lengths over KG Dragonator, with third prize going to Meetyouatmidnight.
Emerald Highlands Farm of Mount Vernon, Ohio bred and owns the three-time winner who lifted his lifetime bankroll to $37,384 in the process.
Littlebitaclass was hammered down to odds of 6-5 in the final division, and he dug down deep to win by a narrow margin in 1:54.4 for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Dave Menary. The recently-purchased three-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip-Aspirine Semalu brushed to the front at the mid-way point and managed to hold off a late challenge from Tex, who wound up settling for second in 1:54.4. Dreydl Hanover enjoyed a ground-saving trip and finished third.
Burke Racing Stable LLC, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Howard Taylor share ownership on the youngster who improved his overall record to 6-1-0 from eight starts while his cash stash swelled to $25,925.
The second leg of the series is scheduled for Monday, January 20 with the $30,000 (added) final on Monday, January 27.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.