Three-year-old fillies were in the spotlight Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack as the Rexdale, Ontario oval hosted the opening round of the Autumn Series for trotters and pacers.
The trotting lasses were up first, and the opening split went to Acapulco Hall and trainer/driver Rick Zeron. The daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Alis Cat grabbed a two-hole trip early while Jayport Princess marched to the front and supplied a :28.1 opening quarter. Jayport Princess was still in command at the half in :58.1, but Zeron had Acapulco Hall on the move. Acapulco Hall took over the lead without a tussle, and she zipped by the three-quarter pole in 1:26.3 before using a :29.4 closing quarter to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Jayport Princess in 1:56.2. Race favourite Missys Ga Ga rallied from last to salvage third prize.
Walnut Hall Limited of Lexington, Kentucky bred and owns the three-time winner who improved this year’s record to 3-1-1 from nine tries with the victory. Her share of the $15,000 purse bumped her lifetime earnings to $27,040.
Heavily favoured Serendiptious went to the front and didn’t look back in the second division for driver Chris Christoforou, and in doing so she extended her winning streak to three-in-a-row. The John Mungillo trainee chopped out intervals of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27.3 before using a :30.2 closing quarter to win by five lengths over Wawona in 1:58. Nickange Two closed from far back to finish third.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, the daughter of Majestic Son-Royal B G is owned by Guy Polillo of Brantford, Ontario. It was the fifth win of the season – and the sixth to date – for the career winner of $51,572.
Meadowview Vicky was sent off as the 1-5 choice in the final division, and she didn’t disappoint an army of backers. The daughter of Muscle Mass-Meadowview Marion got away fourth while Wings Of Ballykeel and Watch Her Dangle took turns on the lead through first-half fractions of :28 and :57.4. Meadowview Molly marched first-over going into the final turn, and she gained a short lead while riding parked out to the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1. Meadowview Vicky closed out the mile with a :30.2 closing quarter to win by a length over Wings Of Ballykeel in 1:57.3. Taking home the show dough was Osprey Impact.
Mark Etsell trains the homebred for Meadowview Farms Inc of Orono, Ontario. The win was the fifth of her career and the $7,500 payday bumped her cash stash to $43,758.
There were three divisions later on the card for three-year-old pacing fillies, with Mach Some Noise, Artistic Fusion and An Angel Shes Not winning their respective $15,000 assignments.
Mach Some Noise toted a two-race winning streak into her tilt and she extended the streak to three-in-a-row thanks to an impressive-looking victory in come-from-behind fashion for driver James MacDonald. The daughter of Mach Three-Belinda Hanover got away last in the field of eight, and she remained there through first-half fractions of :28 and :57.1 supplied by Miss Brandi K and Performing Art. The latter was the leader at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.4, but she wasn’t tough enough to fend off the fierce pressure of Mach Some Noise in the lane. That filly’s :28.1 closing panel was good enough to earn her the win by 2-1/2 lengths over race favourite Performing Art, while third prize was earned by Thrill Chaser.
Tony O’Sullivan trains the suddenly-streaking sophomore for Osullivan Racing Inc, Kirk McKinnon and David Goodrow Stable. Unraced as a rookie, the career winner of $30,500 has manufactured a 3-2-0 record in eight starts this season.
Artistic Fusion stormed home in :28.1 to win the second division, and she did so at odds of 24-1 for driver Sylvain Filion. The daughter of Artistic Fella-Kendal Bullet was no better than eighth through the first three-quarters of the contest, but she launched a late attack and powered away to win by 2-1/2 lengths over even-money favourite Shellyssilvermoon in 1:54.4. Royal Mama tagged along to finish third.
Joe Agostino trains the five-time winner for owner Mike Foote of Venice, Florida. The payday boosted the filly’s bankroll to $32,957.
An Angel Shes Not was treated to a two-hole trip by driver Paul MacDonell in the final division, and the homebred didn’t let it go to waste. After stalking Double Joy through fractions of :26.4, :55.3 and 1:25.4, An Angel Shes Not rallied out of the pocket and prevailed in 1:54.2. Double Joy held on bravely to be second, with third money earned by race favourite Champagne Shower.
Trainer David Snowden of Bowmanville, Ontario bred and owns the three-time winner who is 2-for-26 this season. The daughter of Jeremes Jet-Arms Of An Angel pushed her lifetime earnings to $54,174.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.