Card Dealer pulled off a mild upset and Beach Boy Toy won as he pleased in the opening round of the Cam Fella Pacing Series, which got underway on Saturday evening at a rain soaked Woodbine Racetrack.
The opening $35,000 split went to Card Dealer, a grandson of the late, great Cam Fella. The four-year-old son of Camluck went coast-to-coast for Jody Jamieson, who sliced out panels of :27, :56.3 and 1:25.3 with the gelding who kicked home in :27.3 en route to the 1:53.1 decision over race favourite My Masterpiece and Livefreeordiehard.
Trainer Don Lindsey co-owns the 12-time winner with partners Paul Kleinpaste, Will Alempijevic and Dennis Mavrin. The pacer has banked $147,854 to date.
The second division went to Beach Boy Toy, who clicked as the 4-5 favourite for the tandem of driver Rick Zeron and trainer Jim Ainsworth.
Zeron rolled the four-year-old son of Artiscape the quarter pole in :29 seconds before giving way to the backstretch-brushing Real Celebration. That pacer laid down middle splits of :58.1 and 1:27 before re-engaging in battle with the quarter-pole leader.
Beach Boy Toy uncorked a :27.1 final frame to haul down a dead-game Real Celebration, who finished second, in the closing strides. Third prize went to Cigar Hall.
Ainsworth shares ownership on Beach Boy Toy with partner Bill Boden of Vancouver, BC. It was the pacer’s third win of the season, and the lion’s share of the purse helped him surpass $100,000 in career earnings.
The second round of the Cam Fella Pacing Series goes next Saturday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, with the $72,000 (est.) scheduled for Saturday, March 21.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.