Woodbine Racetrack returned from the Christmas break on Sunday afternoon, and upon re-opening for business a pair of stakes finals were served up
as part of Boxing Day’s 12-race card.
Three-year-old pacing fillies clashed in the $60,000 final of the Niagara Stakes, and Only The World extended her winning streak to five-in-a-row thanks to her 1:53.2 score for the tandem of driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Jeff Gillis.
The daughter of Cole Muffler-Visa Bella motored to immediate command from Post 4 and successfully chopped out panels of :27, :56 and 1:25 before sprinting home in :28.2 to stop the teletimer in 1:53.2. Bullet Point sat a pocket trip throughout and finished second, with Hustleonhome slipping up the rail in deep stretch and taking home third prize.
Rose and George Bonomo of Naperville, IN share ownership on the photogenic pacer, who improved her 2010 record to 10-1-1 in 14 starts with the win. She has banked $71,583 to date.
A stakes record performance was registered by Lucky Terror when he stopped the clock in a sparkling time of 1:51 in the $60,000 final of the Valedictory Stakes.
Making his debut for trainer Casie Coleman, the three-year-old son of Western Terror-Miracle Luck marched right to the front and didn’t look back for driver Mark MacDonald. The gelding led the field through splits of :26.4, :55 and 1:22.2 before stepping home in :28.3 to seal the deal over race favourite Jackets Required. The show dough was earned by Sparky Mark.
The victory was the fifth of the season in just eight assignments for Lucky Terror, who is owned by Glenview Livestock Ltd of Wallenstein, ON. The lion’s share of the purse bumped the pacer’s career bankroll to $73,698.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.