Undefeated freshman pacing colt Big League made his first start for his new connections a winning one as he put in a prep race for the upcoming Snowshoe Pacing Series during Monday's Boxing Day card at Woodbine Racetrack
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Sent postward as the 3-5 favourite in a $19,000 conditioning assignment for new trainer Tony O'Sullivan, Big League worked his way to the top from Post 7 during a :27.3 opening quarter under the guidance of driver Jody Jamieson.
Big League gave way to a pair of parked out sophomore colts down the backstretch as Checkinthebox (Phil Hudon) advanced to lead, followed by 41-1 longshot Balbriggan Fox (Brett Miller).
Balbriggan Fox edged out in front at the :56.2 half-mile marker and led the field to three-quarters in 1:24.1 with Big League angling off the pylons. The freshman colt swept by Balbriggan Fox down the stretch to win by nearly three lengths in 1:53.1. The time of the mile set a new lifetime mark for the eight-time winner, who returned $3.30 to his backers. Balbriggan Fox survived an inquiry to finish second and Checkinthebox was third.
Previously trained by Sean Dooley for the Dooley Boys Racing Stable of Halifax, N.S. and Cheryl Geldart Greer of Norton, N.B., Big League won his first six races in the Maritimes including the Island Breeders Championship before shipping to Ontario where he scored another victory at Woodbine on Dec. 5. He was recently purchased by the American ownership group of Let It Ride Stables Inc., Robert Cooper Stables LLC, Dana Parham, and Jerry Silva.
The son of Four Starzzz Shark out of Bolero Tam Tam has been nominated to the Snowshoe Pacing Series for three and four-year-olds, who non-winners of two races or $20,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2011. The first leg of the series is scheduled for next Monday, Jan. 2, 2012.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.