The opening round of the Tie Silk Series headlined Friday evening's harness racing card at Woodbine Racetrack, featuring sophomore trotting colts and geldings.
Both post time favourites, Bloodstockshalltab and Hamdalla, didn’t disappoint the betting public in each of their $15,000 divisions.
In the opening dash on the card, Bloodstockshalltab and Paul MacDonell cleared to the front past the opening station in :30 set by Devries Hanover (Randy Waples). Bloodstockshalltab continued to lead his seven rivals through middle fractions of 1:00 and 1:29.1 en route to a comfortable two and a quarter length score in 1:59.2. Rock Of Cashel (Alan Richardson) came from off-the-pace to finish second with E L Rocket (Riina Rekila) completing the triactor.
Trained by Ben Wallace and owned by Brad Grant of Milton, Ont., Bloodstockshalltab increased his bankroll to $40,570. The son of Cantab Hall has crafted a handsome 3-1-2 record this season from seven starts. He paid $4.70 to win.
One race later, Jason Brewer guided Hamdalla to a comfortable victory in a matching 1:59.2 clocking.
The son of Taurus Dream was in no hurry in the early going from the outside post position as B Yoyo (Rick Zeron) marched to the front well before the opening station in :29.2. B Yoyo continued to lead past the mid-way point in :59 with Hamdalla sitting fifth. Brewer angled his charge to the outside and began a first-over attack, moving within reach of B Yoyo at three-quarters in 1:27.3. Turning for home, Hamdalla marched past the leader and opened up on the field to score the comfortable win. Devlin Seelster (Paul MacDonell) finished second with Exemplar (Per Henriksen) finishing third.
Hamdalla notched his fourth straight win of the campaign and boasts an impressive 4-1-1 record this season from six starts for trainer Riina Rekila and owner Overseas Farm Ltd., of Campbellville, Ont. He paid $3.10 to win.
The Tie Silk Series is for three-year-old colts and geldings who are non-winners of $30,000 in 2012. The second leg of the series is scheduled for Monday, April 29, with the $25,000 final slated for Thursday, May 9.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.
(With files from WEG)