The winning streak is now three-in-a-row and counting for Circle The Page thanks to her 1:52.4 triumph in her $17,000 division of the Blizzard Series contested Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack.
Jonathan Drury rallied Circle The Page to the career-best clocking after guiding her to a 1:54.2 triumph in last week’s opening leg assignment.
The four-year-old daughter of Real Artist-Queen Marie got away fourth while Franschoek rushed to the top and carved out the first quarter in :27. She remained on the lead through middle panels of 56.1 and 1:24.3, but Circle The Page was applying pressure to her around the final turn. The battle between those two raged on as they traveled into deep stretch, but Circle The Page got up in the closing strides to win by a neck over Franschoek in 1:52.4. Big Chute was a lapped-on third.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, Circle The Page bumped her lifetime bankroll to $63,494 with the win. The seven-time winner hangs her harness bag in the barn of trainer Victor Puddy. She is owned by John Sullivan of Pennsylvania and Michael Marocco of Michigan.
Bettim Jackie, who was fourth in last week’s opening leg assignment, bounced back for a 1:53.2 score in her $17,000 division for driver Louis Philippe Roy and trainer Richard Moreau.
The three-year-old daughter of Andreoli Hanover-Bettim Laura got away fifth and watched Village Jamie and race favourite Katies Gal battle to the quarter in :26.1. Katies Gal brushed to the top and sped to the half in :55.3 before giving way to Glancewithme. She took over command and took the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:24.4. Bettim Jackie stepped to the outside going to the half, and she improved to be third on the outside heading into the final quarter of the contest. Bettim Jackie used a :28.1 closing frame to prevail by three lengths over Glancewithme in a career best clocking of 1:53.2. Village Jamie was third.
The homebred, who is owned by Jeff Lilley, Blair McLauchlan and Danny Purcell, picked up her first win of the season and the fifth of her career. The lion’s share of the loot lifted her lifetime bankroll to $24,046.
The $39,400 final of the Blizzard Series is scheduled for Friday, February 2 at Woodbine Racetrack.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.