Round two of the Autumn Series was contested over a rain-soaked track Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, and Sweetie Hearts and Witch Dali put themselves in position to sweep their respective events thanks to impressive scores.
Sweetie Hearts, who was a 1:57.3 in leg one of the series, produced a front-stepping victory in tonight’s assignment in 1:59.3 for the tandem of driver Mario Baillargeon and trainer Ron Parsons.
Baillargeon got away third from the pole position with the two-year-old daughter of Angus Hall-Sweetheart K before putting her in high gear and brushing to the front shortly past the quarter pole. She was in charge of the speed through middle splits of 1:00 and 1:30.1, and she used a :29.2 closing quarter to seal the deal by 4-3/4 lengths in 1:59.3. Capturethememory was second best in the $12,000 affair, with Audrey Pearl taking home third prize.
Bob Key of Leechburg, Pennsylvania bred and owns the youngster who now boasts a 3-0-1 record from just seven trips to the track. The $6,000 payday bumped her bankroll to $19,900.
Witch Dali romped to an easy win in her division for the two-year-old pacing fillies. In fact, it was a carbon copy of last week’s victory in the opening leg for the team of driver Jack Moiseyev and trainer Tony Alagna.
Moiseyev got away fourth with the daughter of Dali-Whitesand Gem, but he had her on the move in the backstretch. She powered to the front at the half in :56.4, and once she cleared she kept on rolling. She zipped by the three-quarter pole in 1:26 before coasting home in :30.1 to secure the win by nine lengths in 1:56.1. Exhilarated was a distant second, with Zenobia Blue Chip third under the finish line.
Sent off as the 2-5 choice, Witch Dali improved her freshman record to 3-1-1 from nine attempts for partners Tony Alagna, Gaetan Hebert and Aaron Waxman. The homebred now boasts a cash stash of $34,420.
Stellllllla was a front-stepping winner in the second division for the pacing fillies, and she did so as the 6-5 choice. Scott Zeron hustled her off the gate, and after parking to the quarter pole in :27.4 she managed to touch down on the lead and set remaining panels of :57.3 and 1:27 before fending off a late rush from the pocket-sitting Brescia Seelster. Artful Impulse was third.
The 1:56.2 score for Stellllllla gives her a 3-2-1 record from nine starts, and it helped lift her earnings to $34,282. Dave Menary trains the daughter of Mister Big-Streetcarnamedsire for owner/breeder Daryl Sherman of Elmore, OH.
The Autumn Series finals will go postward Friday, November 8 at Woodbine Racetrack.
Thursday evening’s card also featured the $34,000 Preferred Trot, and despite being parked for most of the mile Knows Nothing was a much-the-best winner for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Jeff Gillis.
Cold Certified and Charlie Is A Joker took turns on the lead through fractions :27 and :56.4 before Knows Nothing, who had yet to see the rail, marched to the top and took the field into the final turn. He led past the three-quarter pole in 1:25 and used a :29.3 kicker to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Catch The Dream in 1:54.3. Smarty Pants took home the show dough.
Sent off as the even-money favourite, Knows Nothing won for the fifth time this season and for the 14th time in his career. The four-year-old son of Kadabra-Savvy Yankee races for partners Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz and J Gillis G Stay. The $17,000 payday helped lift the classy campaigner’s bankroll to $729,356.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.