Like a predator after prey, Jins Shark showed no remorse and ferociously devoured his rivals in Saturday night's feature race at Woodbine Racetrack.
A field of seven pacers were slated to line up in the $34,000 Preferred Pace, but that group was reduced to a sextet with the scratch of rail horse Prescotts Hope. Driver James MacDonald was content to allow Jins Shark to stalk his five rivals from sixth as Nirvana Seelster (Sylvain Filion) and Mach Code (Randy Waples) settled into the first two spots. Physicallyinclined (Louis-Philippe Roy) was unable to find a spot along the rail so he was pressed on through a :26.1 opening quarter to land on the lead just before a :54.2 half.
Favoured American Virgin (Doug McNair) was flushed from fourth by an advancing Champagne Phil (Bob McClure), with Jins Shark on that one's helmet and third over through a lively 1:22.2 third station. Turning for home, Jins Shark was still sixth and last as Physicallyinclined maintained his lead. MacDonald then tipped Jins Shark off McClure's helmet and, with MacDonald providing little encouragement, Jins Shark exploded with pace to vanquish his foes with a 1:50 score. Physicallyinclined was a game second, a length and three-quarters behind the winner, with Nirvana Seelster just nosed out for second in the show spot.
Trained by Isaac Waxman for brother Aaron Waxman and Liv With Autism Stables LLC, Jins Shark (Four Starzzz Shark-Gordons Jin Ms) is now North America's fastest performer of 2018 by virtue of that victory -- his 22nd lifetime -- lifting his career bankroll to $391,979.
Jackpot Hi-5 hit for $56,495 Saturday
A horseplayer wagering on Woodbine Racetrack through Western Fair hit the Jackpot Hi-5 Saturday for a $56,495.71 score.
Five-year-old pacer Fancourt and driver Randy Waples struck for an 8-1 upset in Saturday’s final-race at the Toronto oval. The public’s top-choice Blatantly Best finished second, but was followed in the top-five by a trio of longshots, including Shadow Place at 43-1.
Horseplayers wagered $14,636 into the Hi-5 pool Saturday to join a carryover total of $44,054.34.
The winning horseplayer, who was playing at Western Fair, wagered just $2.40 on Saturday’s Jackpot Hi-5. The actual winning ticket cost $0.80 and was structured 1,2/1,2/7,8/7,8/5.
Below is the official top-five from Saturday’s Jackpot Hi-5 race.
1st: #1 Fancourt (Randy Waples) 8-1
2nd: #2 Blatantly Best (Doug McNair) 3-2
3rd: #7 Shadow Place (Chris Christoforou) 43-1
4th: #8 Rockin In Heaven (Phil Hudon) 19-1
5th: #5 Aslan (Sylvain Filion) 8-1
The Jackpot Hi-5 requires horseplayers to select the top-five finishers in order. The wager features a $0.20 minimum wager and low 15 percent takeout.
The Hi-5 will now start from scratch on Monday’s 10-race program. Post time is 7:10 p.m.
For the charted results from Woodbine's Saturday card, click the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
(with files from WEG)