Two three-year-old pacing fillies eligible for the upcoming Blossom Pacing Series were in action and victorious on Thursday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
One of those fillies, Sly Velocity, is entered in Monday's opening leg. On Thursday night, the daughter of Arts Chip - Meredith Hall was an impressive nine-plus length winner for driver Sylvain Filion in a gate-to-wire 1:56.3 spanking.
Des Tackoor conditions the homebred for Velocity Standardbreds of Lebanon, Ohio.
Two races later, another homebred pacing filly was making her seasonal debut. Regil Hurricane, a Sportswriter sister to 2013 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final winner Regil Elektra, showed flashes of early brilliance with a 1:56.4 score for driver Chris Christoforou and trainer Murray Brethour.
Dr. Reg. Westgarth of Amherstberg, Ont. owns Regil Hurricane (Sportswriter - Top Time Notcher) and nominated her to the Blossom Series but has skipped (at least) the first leg.
The Blossom Series, for sophomore fillies that were non-winners of three races of $15,000 in 2014, has also attracted the red-hot Maplelea as well as Nippy W Hanover, the filly that upset Maplelea in the final of the Miss Vera Bars.
With another finale providing a uniquely unsolvable Jackpot Hi-5 combination, the carryover jackpot pool heading into Friday night's card is just a touch lighter than $750,000. WEG announced on Thursday that next Saturday's card at Woodbine Racetrack will feature a mandatory Jackpot Hi-5 payout.
In preparation for the event, the final opportunity to wager on the Jackpot Hi-5 before the mandatory payout date will be Monday, March 30. The carryover will continue to build through that date, provided there is not a single winner. The wager will then be suspended for the Thursday, April 2 and Friday, April 3 cards of racing, allowing customers to prepare for the mandatory payout prize.
To view the results from the full card of harness racing on Thursday night at Woodbine, click the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.