Mach Three daughter, The Three Of Us, rebounded from defeat last week in the second leg of the Ontario Girls Pacing series, to take the $54,500 final this evening at Woodbine Racetrack
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Sent off as the betting third choice, The Three Of Us, with Mike Saftic in the bike, tucked into the pocket spot behind a rocketing April Three (Luc Ouellette) as the field got underway, but by the 3/8 marker Saftic had made a move to reverse their positions, with Onehotvett (Jack Moiseyev) a few lengths back in third.
Having delivered a smart :27.3 third quarter, The Three Of Us found herself under attack at the ¾ pole, as Windsong Experanza and Jody Jamieson made their move, along with Paper Cut and Phil Hudon. Meanwhile, April Three ran out of steam and backed through the field causing traffic problems for several of the stalkers. 6-5 favourite, D M Marion, who had been well off the pace in eighth through much of the mile, finally got underway as the field entered the stretch but found herself with too much ground to make up.
The Three Of Us dug in and held off Windsong Experanza, crossing the wire three and three-quarters lengths to the good in a new stakes record time of 1:51.4, which was also a new best clocking for the Bob Young trainee. It was another six lengths back to Paper Cut in third, while D M Marion was a distant fourth.
This was the third win in four starts this season for The Three Of Us, who expanded her career bankroll past the $100,000 mark for owner Bruce Davy of Brockville, Ont.
A Toast To Herestopatrick In Apaches Fame
Herestopatrick had the luck of the Irish with him this evening at Woodbine, as he enjoyed a wire-to-wire victory in the $20,000 first leg of the Apaches Fame Pacing Series for three-year-old colts and geldings.
Sent off sharply to the front by linesman Luc Ouellette, Herestopatrick took command and led the field through fractions of :27.2, :56.3, and 1:24.2, with Its A Good Thing and Randy Waples riding the pocket spot some two lengths back and even-money favourite, Midnite Romp, gapped out in third.
At the head of the lane, Its A Good Thing made his move, but Ouellette found another gear in Herestopatrick and the pair refused to relinquish their lead. A late rush from Midnite Romp, two-wide, was enough to secure the show spot, but not sufficient to defeat Herestopatrick, who crossed the wire a head in front, in 1:52.4.
Appropriately enough, Herestopatrick is a homebred son of Apaches Fame, out of the Lemoyne Hanover mare, Sippin Time. This was his third win in seven tries as a sophomore for owner/breeder Michael Cecile of Windsor, Ont., and a new lifetime best clocking for the gelding.
The second leg of the Apaches Fame series will go postward next Friday, March 13.
To view Friday's results, click here.
(WEG)