Mr Saratoga and Lisagain turned in a pair of victories on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack in their Preferred prep races for next weekend’s $100,000 Spring Pacing Championship
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In the $35,000 Preferred Pace, Alexie Mattosie (Paul MacDonell), Presidential Series champion and a winner in his last two Preferred events, sprinted off the gate and crossed down to the pylons in front of Mr Saratoga and Keith Oliver at the :27 opening quarter.
Willowdale champion Twin B Warrior (Randy Waples) then powered up from fifth to take over past the :55.2 midway point and proceeded to the next station in 1:23.4. As he turned for home, odds-on favourite Alexie Mattosie pulled the pocket but Twin B Warrior extended his lead. Kicking into action, Mr Saratoga closed in on the leader and surged ahead to score in a 16-1 shocker, stopping the clock in a season's-best 1:51.2. Twin B Warrior finished one and three-quarter lengths behind in second and Alexie Mattosie was third.
Mr Saratoga paid $35.50 for the upset. The seven-year-old son of Million Dollar Cam-Miss Sara Toga picked up his third win of the season in eight starts and pushed his earnings to $57,330 for trainer Tony Montini and Onlineharnessowner Com 7 of Uxbridge, Ont. His career earnings climbed to $620,345 lifetime with his winnings.
Lisagain notched his first victory of the season earlier on the card in the $28,000 Preferred 2 Pace.
Using the inside post position to his advantage, Ok Boromir (Doug McNair) took control of the field off the gate but Post 5 starter Lisagain and driver Jody Jamieson bypassed the pocket spot past the :27-second opening quarter mark and took over as they moved into the backstretch.
The heavy 1-5 favourite reached the half in :55.4 while last week’s winner, Our Lucky Killean (Mark MacDonald), moved underway from fifth. However, Lisagain was untouchable as he raced past three-quarters in 1:24.2 and soared to victory in 1:51.4. Ok Boromir finished one and a half lengths behind with Our Lucky Killean third and 56-1 Midnite Romp closing hard from the backfield for fourth.
Lisagain paid $2.70 to win. The victory was Lisagain’s first of the season after finishing third and fourth in a pair of Invitationals at the Meadowlands. Last year’s Four Leaf Clover champion has banked over $426,000 lifetime for Ervin Miller Stable Inc., Mystical Marker Farms LLC, D And M Trading II LLC and Mary Jane Anderson. He is conditioned by Woodbine’s leading trainer Jeff Gillis.
The $100,000 Spring Pacing Championship takes place next Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack featuring Alexie Mattosie, Gotcha Covered, Hypnotic Blue Chip, Ideal Race, Jackets Required, Livefreeordiehard, Lisagain, Mr Saratoga, Schoolkids and Twin B Warrior.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.