Not even a first-over journey could keep Thebestofmagic out of the winner’s circle on Thursday, as the mare rallied to score a narrow victory in the $10,000 final of the Mid-Winter Claiming Series at Kawartha Downs
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With John Thomson at the lines, Thebestofmagic slid into an early four-hole while G G Delight supplied the field with an opening panel clocked in :27.2. She was still in command at the half in :57.3, but pressure was looming on the rim as a result of Thomson calling on Thebestofmagic to go into first-over mode.
G G Delight was still a length the best at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1, but Thebestofmagic improved to be second as the field moved into the final turn. A :30.3 final frame is all it took for Thebestofmagic to take over command and draw clear to win by three-quarters of a length over G G Delight in 1:58. Third prize was earned by No Teasing Me.
Jason Woodward trains the five-year-old daughter of Cammibest-April Magic for owners Ross and Judy Brown of Newtonville, ON. She has stashed away just over $20,000 in her career.
Love N Kisses survived a parked out trip of her own en route to winning the $11,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred-2 for the tandem of driver Brad Rae and trainer Tom Pond.
Rae got away in mid-pack with the five-year-old daughter of I Am A Fool-Nitro Millbank before asking her to pick up cover and then do some of the first-over road work in the late stages of the mile en route to winning by 3-3/4 lengths in 1:56.1. Mikes Bid was next best, with The Shebaran taking home the show dough.
Helen Crowston of Meaford and Joanne Pond of Hawkestone, ON share ownership on the nine-time winner, who upped her lifetime earnings to $75,277 with the win.
Winning is something driver Aaron Byron had no problem doing during the 12-race card. The Cambridge, ON sulky sitter clicked for a Grand Slam. He netted wins with Doubledeucedalton (1:59.2), Smokin Dabra (1:57.3), Gioco (1:56.1) and Cards N Whiskey (1:56.4).
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Kawartha Downs.