Paper Cut and Awesum Best upset in their respective $25,000 Ontario Sired Autumn Series eliminations for three-year-old fillies at Woodbine Racetrack on Friday.
Paper Cut came from last to first to win her elimination in 1:54.2 for trainer Brian Lee and owners William Andrew, George Rogers and Jim Macphail of Calgary, Alta.
With Phil Hudon on the bike, the daughter of Northern Luck, who went off at odds of 66-1, sat in last place until the stretch drive. The winner of four races and $53,253 in purses sprinted home in :27.4 for the win by a length and three-quarters.
Longshot Jump Start (Jason Brewer) came on for second and Intended To Fly (Mark MacDonald) finished third.
The second elimination went to Awesum Best and Rick Zeron in an identical clocking of 1:54.2.
The daughter of Cammibest, who is trained by John Curran for Kenneth Curran of Coldwater, Ont., converted from the perfect pocket trip for the 13-1 upset.
The Three Of Us (Roger Mayotte) finished second while the pacesetter, Onehotvett (Phil Hudon), rounded out the top three.
Awesume Best, a five-time winner, has earned $36,300 in purses.
$48,600 Ontario Sired Autumn Series Final
1. Intended To Fly – Mark MacDonald
2. Oppies Best – Aaron Byron
3. Paper Cut – Phil Hudon
4. Awesum Best – Rick Zeron
5. Jump Start – Jason Brewer
6. Docdor Cam – Jody Jamieson
7. Onehotvett – Phil Hudon
8. The Three Of Us – Roger Mayotte
9. Astreos Delight – Randy Waples
10. Angel Of The Ocean – Mario Baillargeon
AE1. Elizamotion – Roger Mayotte
In other action, Mach You And Me notched her third consecutive win in the $44,000 Filles & Mares Open Pace with Rick Zeron in the bike.
The daughter of Mach Three, who is trained by Ron O’Neill, settled in fifth as To Helen Back (Mike Saftic) set out for the lead reaching the front at the quarter pole in :27. As the field rolled to the half in :56.1, Zeron tipped his charge out behind Crystal Chris (Mario Baillargeon) and by three-quarters in 1:24.1, Mach You And Me was sent three-wide. With a late stretch rally, the four-year-old mare pulled ahead of the pacesetter to win in 1:53.
Blissful Smile (Jack Moiseyev) came on for second and Crystal Chris finished third.
Mach You And Me picked up her 11th career win and lifted her bankroll to over $538,000 for the Carwin Stables of Orono and the Paul Macdonell Racing Stable of Guelph, Ont.
All eyes were on Arts Diva in the $25,000 Three-Year-Old Pace as she posted a strong five and three-quarter length score in rein to Jody Jamieson.
Ms Goliath (Sylvain Filion) showed good early speed leaving from Post 7 and taking the field to the first quarter station in :27.4, but Arts Diva, who was parked out around the first turn, quickly settled on the front end. After passing the half-mile marker in :56, Jamieson stepped on the gas and the daughter of Art Major opened up by three lengths before reaching three-quarters in 1:23.2. The 3-5 favourite continued to pull away from the field down the stretch coasting to victory in 1:53.
Ms Goliath stayed for second and Southwind Piaya (Rick Zeron) finished third.
Arts Diva notched her second win of the year and fifth in her career for trainer Ken Sucee and owners Brian Legge of North York and Dr. David Legge of Ajax, Ont.
To view Friday’s results, click here.