Trotters were out in full force at Woodbine Racetrack on Monday evening as the oval hosted the second leg of the Tie Silk Series in addition to the opening round of the Swing Into Spring Series
.
In the first of two $30,000 divisions of the Tie Silk Series, Knows Nothing kicked off cover for driver Jody Jamieson and drew clear to win for the second time in as many tries for trainer Jeff Gillis.
The three-year-old son of Kadabra-Savvy Yankee got away seventh while Cimeronken marched to the lead and hit the quarter pole in :28.3. He was overtaken by the parked out Dohini Surfer, who proceeded to lead the field to the mid-way point in :58.3. Dohini Surfer was pressed by the first-over White Russian to the three-quarter pole in 1:28.4, and Jamieson was situated in a second-over striking spot with Knows Nothing. Jamieson flipped off cover when the trotters entered the lane and Knows Nothing used a :29.1 final frame to win by two lengths over Cold Certified in 1:58.3. Cimeronken re-emerged to finish third.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Knows Nothing boosted his lifetime earnings to $24,000 for the partnership of Al Libfeld, Marvin Katz, Mac Nichol and J Gillis G Stay.
Cradabra pulled off a 14-1 upset in his first start of the season for trainer Bernie Noren, who watched the three-year-old son of Kadabra-Crabtree Hanover prevail in the second division in a time of 2:00.4.
Keith Oliver left sharply from the rail with Cradabra, who wound up enjoying a two-hole trip behind the 1-5 favourite, Midfield Magic. The public’s top choice led the group through intervals of :30, 1:00.1 and 1:29.1 before getting hauled down in the closing strides by the rallying Cradabra. The pocket sitter’s :31.1 closing quarter was enough to earn him the win by a neck over Midfield Magic in 2:00.4. Back To Peace grabbed the show dough.
Clare Chappell of New York, NY, Howard Taylor of Philadelphia, PA and the Order BY Stable of Boras, SWD share ownership on career winner of $37,600.
A trio of $20,000 divisions of the Swing Into Spring Series also went postward, with Undercover Strike winning as he pleased in the opening split for driver Jack Moiseyev and trainer Bill Companion.
Moiseyev hustled the four-year-old son of Striking Sahbra-Under The Pines to the early lead, and the gelding threw down an opening quarter in :29.1 before releasing Assignment to the lead in the backstretch. Assignment hit the half in :58.4 before giving way to Undercover Strike going into the final turn. Undercover Strike hit three quarters in 1:27.1 and used a :30.3 closing panel to earn the one-length score over Revenue Agent in 1:57.4. Catch The Dream rallied late to finish third.
Sent off as the 1-2 choice in the nine-horse affair, Undercover Strike won for the fourth time in eight starts this season for the partnership of the Common Sense Stable, Blair Corbeil and Swissasia. The five-time winner has now stashed away more than $112,000 in his career.
Order By Roosevelt prevailed in front-stepping fashion as the odds-on favourite in the second division for the team of driver Paul MacDonell and trainer Carmen Hie.
MacDonell utilized the gelding’s tactical speed to make the lead shortly past the quarter pole in :28.4, and once in command of the tempo he supplied splits of :58.2 and 1:27.3 before chugging home in :31.1 through a vicious West wind to stop the clock in 1:58.4. He was a nose better than a late-surging Roush Hanover. Bullet rallied from the backfield to round out the top three finishers.
Hie shares ownership on the seven-year-old son of Muscles Yankee-Covent Garden with Perry Robins of Orono and Blake Anthony of Millgrove, Ont. It was the fourth win of the season for the 13-time winner, who now a boasts a bankroll of $163,193.
Rockys First, who was making his first start of the season for trainer Ed Hayter, erupted for a 15-1 shocker in the final division.
Jason Brewer sprinted to the lead from Post 9 with the four-year-old son of Hard Rock N Roll-Tara Emerald, and the gelding successfully chopped out fractions of :28.1, :57.4 and 1:27 before using a :30.1 kicker to win by a head over A Crown For Lindy in 1:57.1. Third prize went to the rallying Amigo De Grande.
Vic Hayter of Stratford, ON bred and owns the gelding, who produced a 5-3-2 record from just 15 starts last season. The trotter has banked more than $81,000 to date.
The $50,000 final of the Tie Silk Series and the second leg of the Swing Into Spring Series are slated for April 26.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.