Four divisions in the second leg of the Autumn Series for three-year-old fillies were contested Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, and among the winners was the suddenly-streaking Samira Hanover.
The Mike Keeling-trained Samira Hanover, who was a 1:58.3 winner in last week’s opening leg assignment, was a front-stepping winner in tonight’s second-leg task. The three-year-old daughter of Kadabra-Southern Puff got away third for driver Paul MacDonell, who brushed his charge to the lead at the mid-way point in :57.4. From there, she led the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1 and then used a :28.4 kicker to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Magic Peach in 1:55. Katla rounded out the top three finishers.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, Samira Hanover improved this year’s record to 5-2-4 from 14 starts with the win. The career winner of $67,480 is owned by P C Wellwood Enterprises Inc, William Weaver III, Steve Organ and A K Malik Stable.
Ocean Mist Beauty was a combined 0-for-21 going into the second division for the trotting fillies, but she went home 1-for-22 thanks to her 1:57 triumph for driver Jody Jamieson. The camera-shy daughter of Kadabra-Ocean Mist Dynasty, who was 0-for-6 as a rookie and 0-for-15 this season, led the way through panels of :27.1, :57.2 and 1:26.3 before using a :30.2 closing quarter to hold on for the win in 1:57. Three-quarters of a length in arrears was runner-up I Like My Kaddy. Candida came on strong to finish third.
Rene Dion trains the homebred for Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc of Montreal, Quebec. The lion’s share of the $15,000 purse bumped her overall bankroll in excess of $40,000.
Next up were the pacing fillies, with Putmeintogo and Lyons Sweetie coming up extra large in the respective tilts.
Roger Mayotte hustled Putmeintogo to the engine from Post 9 and after getting hung wide past the quarter pole in :26.4 she eventually worked her way to the front and chopped out middle splits of :57 and 1:25.2 before using a :28.2 final frame to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:53.4. Stonebridge Adore, who enjoyed a two-hole trip, was second best with Miss Poppycock taking home third prize.
Robin Morley of Mildmay, Ontario bred, trains and owns the four-time winner who lifted her lifetime earnings to $54,300 with the win.
Lyonssweetie turned a two-hole trip into a career-best clocking of 1:52.3 in the second division. The daughter of No Pan Intended-Southwind Sugar was hustled to the early lead by driver Randy Waples, and after slicing out an opening quarter in :27.1 she took a backseat to Lutetia Semalu in the backstretch. That foe whacked out intervals of :56.2 and 1:24.2, but she was no match for Lyons Sweetie in the lane. Sent off at 10-1, Lyons Sweetie stormed home in a :28-second clip en route to defeating Lutetia Semalu and Panstakingly.
It was the fourth lifetime victory for the career winner of $53,210, who was making her debut for new trainer Corey Johnson. The pacing lass is owned by Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Burford, Ontario.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.