Three-year-old pacing fillies butted heads in a set of divisions of the Niagara Series during Friday’s 10-race card at Woodbine Racetrack, and the favourites failed to deliver in those $17,000 affairs.
Icthelight Hanover parlayed a pocket trip into an upset tally in the opening division for trainer/driver Rick Zeron. The daughter of Big Jim-Ifyoucouldcwhati C shot to the lead from Post 8 and had the field chasing her past the quarter pole in :28. Race favourite Hot Spot Hanover popped the pocket going into the backstretch and quickly assumed the position of command.
Hot Spot Hanover then led the field through middle splits of :57.2 and 1:26 while feeling mild pressure from the first-over prompter, Norcross Blue Chip. Hot Spot Hanover drifted off the rail in deep stretch, and that allowed Zeron and Icthelighthanover to shoot through and sprint by the pacesetter. Icthelighthanover fired home in :28 to win by a nose over the hard closing Queenofthejungle. Hot Spot Hanover faded to finish third. The time for the mile was 1:54.1.
Holland Racing Stable of Niagara On The Lake, Ont. owns the six-time winner who improved this year’s record to 5-0-2 from 25 starts with the victory. The $8,500 payday lifted the filly’s career earnings to $69,056.
Jimbelina also turned a two-hole trip into a victory thanks to her career-best score of 1:52.2 in the second division.
On top at the quarter pole in :26.2, driver Sylvain Filion was content to release Docs Sausalito to the lead when that foe challenged for the top spot in the backstretch. Docs Sausalito then stepped through middle panels of :55.2 and 1:24 before being overtaken in the lane. Jimbelina rallied off the rail, blew by the pacesetter and drew clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Docs Sausalito. Art Angel Baby was third.
Rene Bourassa trains the daughter of Big Jim-Buddys Gal for Roland Trudel of Becancour, QC. The win was the eight of the season in 17 tries for the career winner of $45,740.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.