Kindofabigdeal and Company Man scored impressive wins in their respective divisions of the Valedictory Series, which kicked off Friday evening at Woodbine Racetrack.
Kindofabigdeal did most of the roadwork in his $15,000 assignment en route to posting an impressive victory for trainer Richard Moreau. Sylvain Filion sat second past the quarter pole with the gelding before asking him to step to the front in the backstretch. The three-year-old son of No Pan Intended-Star Of Show led the group through middle splits of :55.4 and 1:24 before turning on the jets and sprinting home in :28-second clip. He won by three lengths over Mittcent Van Gogh, with third prize going to Ideal Shadow.
Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc of Hudson, Quebec owns the pacer, who was sent off as the 4-5 favourite in the ten-horse affair. The win was his fourth of the season in eight tries and the lion’s share of the purse bumped his bankroll to $42,120.
Company Man rallied from out of the clouds to win his division in 1:52.2 for driver James MacDonald and trainer Allen Tomlinson. Overlooked by many at odds of 18-1, the gelding got away eighth and was far back through panels of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:24.2 which were set by Arrived Late and So Bad Im Good. MacDonald flipped the switch on the pacer coming off the final turn, and the three-year-old son of American Ideal-Rita Hall fired home in a :27-second clip to win by a pair of lengths over Ransom Demand. So Bad Im Good faded late and settled for third.
Daniel Mitchell of Novi, Michigan owns a 3-7-2 record so far this season from 16 starts, and he’s banked close to $45,000 along the way after potting a mere $300 in his freshman campaign.
Earlier on the card it was American In Paris posting a decisive victory in the $30,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred in a time of 1:51.1 for driver Chris Christoforou.
The mare was sent for the lead from Post 3, and after parking to the quarter in :26.4 she eventually cleared to the top before releasing Brushstrokes to the position of command. Christoforou didn’t sit long with American In Paris, however, as she was asked to step right back to the lead in the second quarter.
She was parked at the mid-way point in :55.2 before reclaiming the point, and she continued to lead the way to the three-quarter marker in 1:23.1 before using a :28-second closing panel to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Waasmula. Marlee B rounded out the Triactor ticket.
Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the Murray Brethour trainee improved this year’s record to 14-7-3 from 27 trips postward. The four-year-old daughter of American Ideal-Sendingforth, who is owned by Doug Millard of Woodstock, Ontario, lifted her lifetime cash stash to $343,009 with the victory.
The red hot Jabas Luck extended her winning streak to five-in-a-row thanks to her front-stepping score in her overnight assignment for Team Young.
Scott Young hustled the seven-year-old daughter of Camluck-Athenas Art to the lead from Post 6 and she successfully whacked out fractions of :27.3, :57.1 and 1:25 before using a :28.2 closing panel to post the win over Regil Meg and Life Is A Lady.
Ross Family Farms Ltd of Wingham, Ontario owns the 11-time winner who has picked up eight of those wins this season. She’s banked more than $57,000 this year and more than $74,000 to date.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.