Cowboys Dreamer scored as a heavy favourite while Tien Tien posted a huge upset in Thursday’s second leg of the Princess Pacing Series for three-year-old fillies at
Woodbine Racetrack.
Cowboys Dreamer had an easy time of it in the opening $25,000 split, winning by a little more than two lengths for driver Luc Ouellette in 1:53.1. The strapping chestnut daughter of Hawaiian Cowboy-Mothersday Dream made a quarter-pole move to command just past the half and then easily turned back Misty Moonstone with Kims Quest rounding out the top three.
The filly, who returned just $2.60 to win, bounced back after a disappointing loss in last week’s first leg when she got caught in behind pacesetting A Pippin Hanover who went on to win.
“The only bad race she’s ever gone was on the front (referring to a March 24th loss at Windsor), so obviously it’s a place I don’t want to wind up,” explained Ouellette. “Last week I thought I was following a decent horse. I was in the two-hole trip, but it didn’t work out. A horse came first up and I couldn’t get out with her.
“Like I did tonight there, if you sit in with her in for three-eighths of a mile and come slow on the outside or late in the mile crossover, then she’ll keep going.”
The victory was the seventh in nine starts this season for trainer Joseph Berry of Michigan and Louis Carlo of Ohio. The winner’s share of the purse increased her seasonal earnings to just over $57,000.
In the second split, Tien Tien watched the pacesetters put up a quick opening half of :55.2 before driver Jason Brewer sent the daughter of Artiscape-Raindrop Hanover on the attack. Tien Tien was able to power past race leader Slimsplace heading into the final turn and then easily held her rivals at bay for the 1:52.1 victory - fastest of the two divisions.
Slimsplace held on for the place spot with A Pippin Hanover finishing a blocked third. The winner rewarded her backers with a hefty $73.00 win return and was part of a whopping Pick-4 that returned $11,672.90.
Tien Tien now has two wins from seven trips postward this season for trainer Fred Hoffman and owner Gregory Martin of Calgary, Alberta.
The $80,000 Princess Pacing Series final will go postward next Thursday night from Woodbine.
(WEG)
To view Thursday’s results, click here.