The opening round of the Don Mills Trotting Series for four-year-olds went postward on Sunday afternoon at Woodbine Racetrack, and upsetters prevailed
in each of the $25,000 divisions.
After enjoying a ground-saving journey for the first three-quarters of the mile, Kilted Pride came to life in the lane en route to taking the opening division for the duo of driver Mario Baillargeon and trainer Ben Baillargeon.
Purchased for $25,000 from last November’s Harrisburg Mixed Sale, the four-year-old son of Angus Hall-Taylor Seelster powered home in :28.4 to fend off race favourite Lexis Amigo, who was left in the second spot despite over-trotting himself and making a late break. Tall Cotton was a distant third.
C Tremblay Holding Inc, Frank Cirillo and Soc Ge Denis Robidoux Inc share ownership on the gelding, who picked up his first win of the season in three attempts. The six-time winner upped his lifetime earnings to $80,151.
Scott Zeron marched V Squared to the lead in the second division and had the field lined up behind him through a :27.2 opening panel. Pocket-sitter Play Fair sprinted to the top going into the backstretch, and he proceeded to the lead to the mid-way point in :58.1.
Play Fair felt pressure around the final turn from Celebrity Hercules, and they exchanged punches all the way to the three-quarter pole in 1:28.1 before Celebrity Hercules put away the pacesetter. V Squared was angled out to the centre of the track and used a :28.1 final quarter to post the neck decision over Celebrity Hercules. Sir Winston rallied to grab the third prize.
It was the second win of the season for the Rick Zeron-trained son of Pegasus Spur-Ion Rouge, who was sent off as a 7-1 outsider. Team Z Stable, Michael Katz, Stephen Waldman and Scott Robinson share ownership on the 19-time winner who has banked $93,681 to date.
The Don Mills Trotting Series will have one more preliminary round, which goes next Sunday afternoon, leading up to the $60,000 (est.) final on Sunday, February 7.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.