It was a nail biter but Smashbox came through in a tight photo finish to complete a sweep of the Ontario Girls Pacing Series final for four-year-old mares on Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack
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Rick Zeron got the daughter of Mach Three - Sunone away fourth in the early going of the $60,000 final and watched Cats Meow (Randy Waples) put up a hot first quarter of :26.2. As soon as things settled in the second quarter, Smashbox went on the attack and took command right at the half in :55.2.
The leader faced mild pressure from Hudson Gal (Luc Ouellette) in the third panel and put up the three-quarters in 1:24.4 with Cats Meow swelling up in the pocket position and Keepers Destiny (Mark MacDonald) in behind that one and desperately looking for racing room.
In the stretch, Zeron asked Smashbox for more and she dug in gamely with Cats Meow finding clearance and moving up to challenge. In the meantime, Keepers Destiny stayed inside and started to rally along the pylons.
It was a three-horse drive to the wire with Smashbox holding on by a head over Cats Meow and Keepers Destiny finishing a lapped-on third. The winner returned a popular $3.10 as the public’s choice.
The victory was the third in four tries this season for the Jim Ainsworth trainee, who is owned by Larry Ainsworth, William Boden and the Martwest Racing Stable. The lion’s share of the purse boosted her career earnings to just over $130,000.
Zeron (four winners on the 11-race program) also clicked with Windsong Filou, who made a successful jump up into the $50,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace.
Four Starzz Meliss (Jason Brewer) was the first to fire off the gate in a full field of 10, but a parked out Southwind Madonna (Lyle MacArthur) worked her way to the top past the :26.3 first quarter. Once in control, Southwind Madonna put up middle stations of :55.4 and 1:24.1 with To Helen Back (Mike Saftic) and Windsong Filou looming from first and second over.
Down the stretch, Southwind Madonna drifted wide and Four Starzz Meliss took advantage sneaking up the rail. On the outside, To Helen Back and Windsong Filou locked in a duel and crossed the wire together. When the dust settled it was Windsong Filou who came out on top. She won by a nose in 1:52.3 over To Helen Back while Four Starzz Meliss held on for third. The winner returned $19.60 at the 8-1 sixth choice.
Windsong Filou, a four-year-old homebred daughter of Astreos – Jasper Avenue, is trained by Shawn Robinson and owned by Bill Loyens of London, Ont. Her second win of the year in seven outings lifted her earnings to $55,140 and $298,037 lifetime.
To view Friday's results, click here.
(With files from WEG)