Jody Jamieson Hits 7,000 Win Mark

Driver Jody Jamieson became the newest member of harness racing's 7,000 win club on Thursday night at Woodbine Racetrack.

Jamieson, 37, entered the night three wins shy of the milestone, but quickly moved in on the 7,000 win plateau after scoring victories in the second race with Irish Scotch and Sugarsam in the sixth. He followed that up in Race 7 by guiding pacer Frankie Boy to victory in a division of the Autumn Series for the milestone victory.

A son of Artistic Fella, Frankie Boy is trained by Tony O’Sullivan for owners Lomangino Standardbreds and Leo Lomangino.

Jamieson has been consistently among the top drivers on the Woodbine Entertainment Group circuit over the last decade and was the circuit’s top driver in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012. The Moffat, Ont. resident is a three-time O'Brien Award winner as Canada's Driver of the Year (2007, 2009, 2011) and two-time (2001 and 2011) World Driving Champion. He'll shoot for a third title in the 2015 World Driving Championship, hosted by Australia.

Jamieson has captured several of the sport’s most prestigious titles including the North America Cup twice, the Little Brown Jug and the Maple Leaf Trot. In August of 2013, Jamieson reached the $100 million mark in career earnings.

This season, Jody Jamieson has recorded 254 wins and earnings of just under $5 million, while his career earnings exceed $107 million.

Jamieson's milestone victory coincided with second round action of the Autumn Series for the freshman colt pacers and trotters with a trio of $14,000 second leg divisions for each gait.

In the first division for the trotters, One Direction repeated his impressive performance from leg one to win in 1:58.2. Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, One Direction dropped in third and came first up in the middle half for driver Chris Christoforou. After leading the field by the three-quarter pole in 1:28.4, One Direction cruised home under a hand drive from Christoforou to win with ease.

Rubber Duck was a hard-closing second, while Jayport All Muscle finished third.

A son of Deweycheatumnhowe, One Direction broke his maiden last week in the first leg and has now won twice in six career starts. Trained by Dustin Jones for owner Ernst Gerbaulet of Germany, One Direction lowered his lifetime mark by a fifth of a second and increased his earnings to $14,800. He returned $2.70 to win.

In the second division, Irish Scotch and Jody Jamieson were able to capitalize on a break by the favourite to win in 1:58.1.

Olympic Son, the 1-2 favourite, made a break as the wings of the gate folded allowing Jamieson to send Irish Scotch to the lead. After controlling the tempo to his liking, Irish Scotch was never in any danger in the stretch and trotted home in :29.4 to win by a length and a quarter over Olympic Son.

However, Olympic Son would be placed from second to sixth for failing to lose ground while making his break at the start. William Star became the new second place finisher, while Duh Bubbees was bumped from fourth to third.

A son of Muscle Mass, Irish Scotch is trained by Don Lindsey for owner Paul Lindsey. The second leg victory was a maiden-breaking score for Irish Scotch and pushes his career earnings to $14,495. He returned $6.70 to win.

Muscles All Over kept it together to take the final division in 1:59. Driven by Daniel Potvin, Muscles All Over was a little rough-gaited at the start, but was still able to leave and get the front. Around the final turn, Delcrest Massy came charging first up to challenge Muscles All Over and the pair dueled by the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3.

In the stretch, Delcrest Massy backed off and tried to re-rally up the rail, but Muscles All Over would not relinquish the lead and held on to win by a length and a quarter. Don Jarvis got up to take the show spot.

A son of Muscle Mass, Muscles All Over is owned and trained by Ivan Gallant. The two-year-old trotter, who finished second in the first leg, broke his maiden with the victory Thursday night. Muscles All Over has now earned $24,840 in 12 starts. He paid $5.50 to win.

Sugarsam rode the rail to victory in the first of three divisions for the rookie pacing colts and geldings. Driven by Jamieson, Sugarsam left hard to take the early lead, but would allow The Battle Begins to overtake the lead in the second quarter.

After sitting patiently in the two-hole, Jamieson would shoot Sugarsam up the inside in the stretch and power on to a 2-1/4 length victory in 1:53.1. Lancaster Park, who was first up, finished second, while Pan Street Usa followed him to a third place finish.

A son of Sportswriter, Sugarsam is trained by Corey Johnson for owner Sotirios Anastasopoulos. The two-year-old was a winner a week ago in the first leg and now has five wins in 11 starts for earnings of $32,475. He returned $6.40 to win.

In the final division, Robert Hill had to dig deep to pull out his third straight victory in 1:54.2. Driven by James MacDonald, Robert Hill got away third and was sent to the lead in the second quarter. Around the final turn, Robert Hill would be challenged hard by Three Rivers Dell and posted a third-quarter of :27.4.

Despite the big third panel, Robert Hill turned aside Three Rivers Dell and dug deep to just hold off J Js Delivery, who got a second over trip, to win by a nose. Halton Hurricane, a leg one winner, finished third.

A son of Jeremes Jet, Robert Hill -- who won a division of the first leg a week ago -- has now won three starts in a row and four of 11 this season. Trained by Tony Alagna, Robert Hill now has career earnings of $46,150 for owner Tom Hill. Robert Hill paid $5.60 to win.

The finals for both gaits will go next Thursday, November 6. The top ten money earners that enter will contest next week’s finales.

Post time is 7:25 p.m.

To view charted results and payouts for Thursday night's card of harness racing at Woodbine, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.

(with files from WEG)