Millionaires Armbro Chronicle and Dali successfully tackled their respective Open assignments co-featured on Saturday’s program at Woodbine Racetrack
while North America's leading driver, Jody Jamieson, added five more wins to his record.
Armbro Chronicle and Jody Jamieson went wire-to-wire in the $50,000 Open Trot holding off the 3-5 favourite, Define The World (Paul MacDonell), by a head.
Jamieson directed the seven-year-old son of Self Possessed-Pat Honey to the lead from Post 7 during a :27.1 opening quarter. After taking a :30-second breather, 9-2 third choice Armbro Chronicle bypassed three-quarters in 1:26.1 and turned for home.
Mid-stretch Define The World pulled the pocket and lunged forward but Armbro Chronicle hit the wire just in time. He stopped the clock in 1:53.4.
The runner-up’s share of the purse left Define The World just $5,019 shy of earning millionaire status. Slave Dream (Sylvain Filion) journeyed first up from fifth after the half to complete the triactor.
Kent Baker trains and co-owns Armbro Chronicle with Cal Patterson of Wasaga Beach, Jo Anne Smith and Randy Fielder of Coldwater, Ont. His ninth win in 25 seasonal starts pushed his earnings to $341,710.
The victory was one of five on the card for Jamieson, leaving him 11 away from tying the Canadian single season win record of 739.
In the $50,000 Open Pace, Dali rallied off cover for another mild upset.
Bolero Charles (Jason Brewer) fired off the gate from Post 6 and cut a quarter of :26.2 with Hyperion Hanover (Rick Zeron) and 9-5 favourite Keystone Horatio (Randy Waples) following in behind.
As the field approached the half in :54.1, 4-1 third choice Dali and Luc Ouellette tipped to the outside from sixth flushing out Anderlecht (Phil Hudon) from fourth. After passing three-quarters in 1:21.3, Dali rallied off cover and kicked away by two lengths to win in 1:49.1.
Keystone Horatio angled out and came on for second with Ramegade Bruiser (Jody Jamieson) closing from the backfield for show.
Trained by Rene Allard for the Uncirculated Stable of Brantford, Ont. and the JL Benson Stables of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Dali won for the fifth time in 18 starts this year. The four-year-old son of Real Artist-Armbro Teas has banked $129,180 so far in 2009.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click here.