Real Celebration took the first of two $35,000 Cam Fella Pacing Series splits this evening at Woodbine Racetrack by half a length, while Livefreeordiehard captured his division by a more generous margin of one and a half lengths
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Jason Brewer played a waiting game with Real Celebration while several colts jockeyed for position in the first of the two events. Favourite Beach Boy Toy (Rick Zeron) briefly held the early lead before being overtaken by Anderlecht (Mark MacDonald) at the half-mile marker. With Shiny Mach (Jack Moiseyev) coming on his outside and Avalon Promise (Jody Jamieson) second-over, Beach Boy Toy found himself boxed in with nowhere to go.
Anderlecht held onto the front down the stretch, but was gradually worn down by Real Celebration, who went on to win in 1:52.1, and longshot Avalon Promise, who captured second. Shiny Mach, in his first start after being involved in an eight-horse wreck on March 2, held on for fourth.
Real Celebration, a four-year-old gelded son of Real Artist, is trained by Casie Coleman for J. Robert Darrow of Dublin, C. Ed Mullinax of Amherst, and Ron Broadstone of Columbus, Ohio. This was his first win in five tries this season, and will push his earnings over the $100,000 mark.
Livefreeordiehard used a strong closing kick to claim the second Cam Fella division, defeating newcomer Dancing With Fire in 1:51.3. Jody Jamieson positioned the son of Western Hanover in fifth in the early going while My Masterpiece and Mike Saftic did the heavy lifting up front, with Card Dealer (Paul MacDonell) tucked into the pocket spot.
At the half, Dancing With Fire (Luc Ouellette) made a move, getting as far as My Masterpiece’s wheels. He forced Livefreeordiehard to go two-wide in deep stretch, but the colt was up to the task and sprinted away to win, with Dancing With Fire trailing in second, and Monster In Law (Jason Brewer) a surprise third. My Masterpiece faded to sixth.
Janet Ho of Markham, Ontario owns Livefreeordiehard, and Rob Fellows conditions. This was the colt’s second win in eight tries this year.
The final of the Cam Fella Pacing Series goes postward next Saturday night, March 21, at Woodbine.
In other action, Oliver Jackson pulled off a 32-1 stunner in the $50,000 Open Pace for trainer, driver and co-owner John Thomson.
The seven-year-old Western Hanover gelding got away fifth from Post 5 in the six-horse affair while fan favourite Ramegade Bruiser (Mark MacDonald) cleared the lead ahead of Secrets Nephew (Lyle MacArthur) and carved out fractions of :26.2, :54.1 and 1:22.
At the half, Oliver Jackson made the winning move when he launched a first-over bid from the backfield. He advanced steadily on the outside and used a :27.1 final frame to prevail in a life’s best 1:50.
A hard-closing Action Figure (Paul MacDonell) finished right there in second forcing Ramegade Bruiser to settle for third.
Oliver Jackson scored his third win in six starts this year pushing his earnings to over $55,000. The winner of 22 races has banked $339,980 to date for Thomson and his partner Eleanor Barker of Carrying Place, Ont.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.
(With files from WEG)