Two new faces found their way to victory lane in Thursday’s second leg of the Niagara Series at Woodbine Racetrack, as Solid Queen and Hands Off Hanover used off-the-pace tactics to secure upset victories in their respective assignments.
Solid Queen stormed off cover to win her $15,000 division in 1:53.3 for the tandem of driver Joe Bongiorno and trainer Michael Russo. The three-year-old daughter of Riverboat King-In Solid got away sixth while Wonderful Charm shot to the top and sped through panels of :26.4, :57.1 and 1:26.2. Solid Queen tracked cover in the backstretch before exploding three wide around the final turn. She used a :27-second closing quarter to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Wonderful Charm in 1:53.3. D Gs Pesquero was third.
Scott Irwin of Milltown, New Jersey owns the filly who improved this year’s record to 6-8-2 from 27 starts with the victory. The lion’s share of the purse boosted her overall bankroll to $60,667.
Hands Off Hanover also used come-from-behind tactics to win the second division in a time of 1:54.1. Lyonssweetie charged to the early lead and had the field chasing her past the quarter pole in :26.2, but Putmeintogo popped out of the pocket spot and brushed to the front as the field entered the backstretch. Once in charge, she led the field through middle splits of :56.2 and 1:25.1. She tired late, and that allowed Hands Off Hanover to charge from the backfield and secure the win by three quarters of a length over Miss Poppycock and Lyonssweetie, who finished a dead heat for the runner-up position.
Percy Elkins of Campbellville, Ontario owns the three-year-old daughter of Western Ideal-Harlow Hall, who improved her 2013 record to 5-3-2 from 27 trips to the track. She pushed her lifetime earnings over $60,000 with the win.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.