Undefeated so far in 2011, Horseplayer Interactive Stakes champion Didrickson pushed her win streak to seven on Friday in the first of two $25,000 Damsel Stakes eliminations at Woodbine
Racetrack. The Damsel Stakes is for four and five-year-old pacing mares that are non-winners of $100,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2010.
Driven by Randy Waples, Didrickson made a backstretch brush from fourth after the :27.3 opening quarter and reached the half in :57. I Lady (Rick Zeron) moved first over into contention as the field approached three-quarters in 1:25.1, but Didrickson rebuffed that challenger and drew away to a two length victory in 1:54 over a 'good' track rated one second off. Ardor Locke (Jack Moiseyev) rallied off cover to place while I Lady had to settle for third. Highland Dancer (Jason Brewer) and Racino Star (Luc Ouellette) finished fourth and fifth.
Didrickson paid $3.40 to win as the 3-5 favourite. Now a perfect seven-for-seven this year, the five-year-old mare has banked $78,500 for owner, trainer and breeder Kelly Goodwin. The daughter of Keystone Raider-Strikadeeze notched her 15th career win and boosted her bankroll over the $150,000 mark.
Also undefeated in 2011, Spirit To Spare delivered on her pari-mutuel promise in the second elimination for driver Paul MacDonell and trainer Ian Reid.
The 2-5 favourite eventually won an early tussle for the lead, striking the front past the :27.1 opening quarter. Spirit To Spare gave way to L H Nenia (Phil Hudon), who rushed to command down the backstretch and hit the half in :55.2, but moved out for the re-take and sprinted to three-quarters in 1:23.1. She kicked away from the field to score in 1:52.2 by nearly four lengths. L H Nenia was the runner-up with Rub N Tug (Randy Waples) back in third. McGain N McGain (Sylvain Filion) and Rockn Highland (Rick Zeron) finished fourth and fifth.
Spirit To Spare returned $2.90 to win. The five-year-old daughter of Artsplace-Bust Out The Bid is now three-for-three in 2011 with $25,500 earned for owner James Switlyk of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey. The 11-time career winner now boasts a bankroll of $116,500.
In regular racing action, Warrawee Koine front-stepped her way to victory in the $32,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace for driver Rick Zeron and trainer Colin Johnson.
The five-year-old Astreos-My Gal Hall mare fired to command from the outside Post 8 ahead of 4-5 favourite Four Starz Horndog (Sylvain Filion). Warrawee Koine carved out fractions of :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25.2 with last week’s upset winner Pancleefandarpels (Randy Waples) moving first up from fifth and Lady Latte (Keith Oliver) tracking her cover. Pancleefandarpels applied heavy pressure to the pacesetter down the lane but Warrawee Koine found the wire just in time to hold on for the 1:53.3 victory by a nose.
Warrawee Koine paid $11.30 to win as the 9-2 third choice. The career winner of 14 races and over $282,000 is owned by Dr. Michael Wilson of Rockwood, Ont. Warrawee Koine has won two of seven races this season and has yet to finish out of the money for earnings totaling $62,800.
Here is a look at the field for next Friday’s $100,000 Damsel Stakes in post position order:
1. L H Nenia
2. McGain N McGain
3. Spirit To Spare
4. Didrickson
5. Rockn Highland
6. Rub N Tug
7. Highland Dancer
8. I Lady
9. Ardor Locke
10. Racino Star
AE1. Miss Sand Creek
For results from Friday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.