I Lady pulled off a 23-1 upset as she equalled the stakes record in the $100,000 Damsel Stakes for four and five-year-old pacing mares on Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack
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Rub N Tug (Mark MacDonald) was the quickest off the gate with Post 8 starter I Lady and Jody Jamieson tucking in behind her during a :27.3 opening quarter, followed by 1-5 favourite Spirit To Spare (Paul MacDonell).
I Lady made a quarter pole move but her lead was short lived as Spirit To Spare, the fastest elimination winner, rolled to the front before the half in :55.3. As she raced to the third quarter mark in 1:23.1, L H Nenia (Phil Hudon) moved underway from fourth with the other elimination winner, Didrickson (Randy Waples), following her cover.
Spirit To Spare maintained her lead into the stretch but was unable to fend off a late challenge by I Lady, who pulled the pocket and sprinted to a 1:51.4 stakes record victory. Didrickson rallied off cover to finish second while Spirit To Spare settled for third.
I Lady paid $48.00 for the upset. The four-year-old daughter of Western Ideal–Gorey Daze, who finished third behind Didrickson in her elimination, earned her first win in four starts this season. The victory helped boost her career bankroll to $158,310 for trainer Jeff Gillis and M And L Of Delaware Inc. of Wilmington, Delaware.
The victory was one of three on 11-race card for Gillis. Classic Alana ($9.60) and Canaco Run ($7) also won their Friday night assignments with Jamieson in the bike.
In other action, Warrawee Koine held off Pancleefandarpels for the second consecutive week to capture the $32,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace.
Driven by Rick Zeron, Warrawee Koine hustled off the gate from Post 5 to establish early command of the six-horse field. She carved out panels of :28.1 and :57.1 without facing any challengers. As she approached the 1:26 third quarter mark, even-money favourite Pancleefandarpels (Randy Waples) pulled the pocket but could not catch the pacesetter, who scored by half a length in 1:53.2. Smashbox (Jody Jamieson) rounded out the top three.
Warrawee Koine paid $6.80 to win for the third time in eight seasonal starts. The five-year-old Astreos-My Gal Hall mare lifted her earnings to $78,800 for 2011 and $298,758 lifetime for owner Dr. Michael Wilson of Rockwood, Ont. The victory leaves trainer Colin Johnson just one away from reaching the 3,000-win milestone.
For results from Friday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Friday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.