Please Poppy Trounces Rivals In Glorys Comet Final

Please Poppy survived a parked-out trip, under harsh winter weather conditions, to post a convincing victory in the $90,000 Glorys Comet Trotting Series Final on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack

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The five-year-old son of Self Possessed - Memes Sugar left from post seven in the field of 10 for driver Mark MacDonald and found himself parked in sixth position as the field reached the first station in a brisk :26.3.

As the field straightened up towards the half, Chick N Tell (Rick Zeron), who had parked all the way through the first turn, moved up to take the lead but then had Armbro Chronicle (Mike Saftic) pressuring immediately on the outside with Please Poppy following closely on that one's back.

Armbro Chronicle eventually forged his way to command just past the half in :56.4, leaving Please Poppy caught in the first-over position in second. At that point, MacDonald asked his trotter for all he had and Please Poppy responded by overtaking Armbro Chronicle just prior to the third station in 1:25.4.

As the field turned for home, Please Poppy continued to trot strong and it was quickly apparent that no one would catch him on this night. Armbro Chronicle was all out to try and hold the place spot but was unable to fend off late rallies by Scorpion Moon (Jody Jamieson) and Enny Youngman (Mario Baillargeon) who finished second and third respectively. Armbro Chronicle eventually had to settle for fourth.

The margin of victory was three and a half lengths for the Per Henriksen trainee who was posting his first win in three tries this season for owners Bjorn Skabo and Ragnar Hagen of Norway. The winner's share of the purse boosted his career bankroll to just over $500,000.

Real Nice and driver Chris Christoforou emerged victorious in Saturday's lone $40,000 division in the second round of the Willowdale Pacing Series for four-year-olds at Woodbine Racetrack.

The son of Real Artist - Dreamlands Jo Jo left from post two in the bulky 12-horse field and found himself sitting in fifth position as Get Out Of Dodge (Phil Hudon) and The Admiral (Paul MacDonell) battled through a :27-second first quarter. The Admiral gave way briefly in the first panel but then made a move back to the front and led the field past the half in :56 seconds.

Sensing the backfield was in motion, Christoforou started Real Nice up out of fifth and the pair quickly brushed right past the pacesetter and took command just prior to the third station in 1:25.2. My Masterpiece (Jack Moiseyev) had been following that move and continued to challenge on the outside second with The Admiral back in third.

As the field turned for home, Real Nice dug in and would not let any of his rivals past his wheel, holding on for the three-quarter length win in 1:54.3. My Masterpiece raced gamely and held on for second with The Admiral finding his second wind to salvage the show spot.

It was the first win in three tries this season for the Bob Young trainee and boosted his career earnings to just over $141,000 for the Not So Nice Stable, Alvin Storey, James Padgett and Beverly McGrath of Ontario.

The $60,000 Willowdale Pacing Series Final will go postward next Saturday night at Woodbine.

This week’s edition of the $50,000 Open Pace saw Ramegade Bruiser capture his fourth consecutive victory bringing Christoforou back to the winner’s circle.

The six-year-old gelded son of Rambaran – Love You Dear carved out panels of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:26 before pulling away for the easy win in 1:53.1.

Kindly Poet (Randy Waples) finished two and three-quarter lengths back in second and Secrets Nephew (Lyle MacArthur) finished third.

Trained and owned by David Brown of Cannington, Ont., Ramegade Bruiser scored his 33rd career win and boosted his bankroll to over $680,000 in the process.

In the evening’s 11th race, You Bet Your Glass made a break and fell at the start of the race from Post 1. Mark MacDonald was unseated in the spill but both the horse and driver were up quickly and appeared to escape serious injury. No other horses were affected.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.

(With files from WEG)