Two-year-old fillies – both trotters and pacers - found themselves in the spotlight Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack as the oval hosted the opening leg of the Autumn Series. Two divisions for each set – each worth $12,000 – went postward, with the trotters kicking off the proceedings.
Wonderland Snow was a front-stepping winner in the first division for the tandem of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Ron Parsons. The daughter of Angus Hall-Americansnowqueenk zipped through panels of :29, 1:00 and 1:31.2 before using a :28.4 kicker to seal the deal. Aphrodity, the even-money favourite, came up a neck short in the closing strides. Third prize went to Andrea Lea.
Bob Key of Leechburg, Pennsylvania bred and owns the rookie who now boasts a 2-1-1 record from 10 trips to the track. She’s banked just over $25,000.
The Ron Parsons-trained Sweetie Hearts captured the second division in 1:57.3 for driver Mario Baillargeon. Sent off as the 1-2 favourite in the six-horse affair, the daughter of Angus Hall-Sweetheart K survived a first-over trip to win by half a length over Torches Star. Capturethememory, who supplied fractions of :28.1, :58.4 and 1:28.4, faded to finish third.
Bred and owned by Bob Key, Sweetie Hearts improved her record to 2-0-1 in six tries with the victory. The $6,000 payday bumped her earnings to $13,900.
Witch Dali was a popular winner in the first of two divisions for the pacing lasses, and she won by a football field. Jack Moiseyev got away fourth with the daughter of Dali-Whitesand Gem, but he brushed her to the front in the second quarter and led the field to the half in :57. She opened up by two lengths at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.1 and tacked on a :28.1 closing panel to win by eight lengths in 1:53.2. Zenobia Blue Chip was next best, with Exhilarated grabbing the show dough.
Trainer Tony Alagna shares ownership on the homebred with partners Aaron Waxman and Gaetan Hebert, and the partners have watched the youngster assemble a 2-1-1 record in her first eight assignments. She’s managed to stash away $28,320 in the process.
Noble Jilly, who posted a maiden-breaking win one week ago, rallied to a 1:54.1 score in the second division for the tandem of driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Harry Poulton. The daughter of Jeremes Jet-Simply Lucky sat back through early panels of :27.2, :56.2 and 1:25 before sprinting past foes in the lane. She used a :28-second closing quarter to win by three-quarters of a length over Stellllllla, with Artful Impulse a bang-up third.
Banjo Farms of Toronto, Ontario bred and owns the rookie, who now owns a 2-3-2 record from 11 assignments. Her share of the loot pushed her cash stash to $29,854.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.