The first leg of the City Of London Series kicked off on Wednesday night at Western Fair Raceway with a slate of eight divisions worth $7,500 a piece
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The series, which is for four-year-olds and younger that are Ontario-sired non-winners of $10,000 in lifetime earnings as of April 1 of this year, began with four divisions for colts and geldings followed by four for the fillies and mares. While the ladies later delivered on most of their pari-mutuel promises, the boys offered up some upsets.
After being shuffled back to fifth, 18-1 longshot Lawmen Reign unleashed a :28-second final frame to win the first colt division in 1:58 by a length and a half over Encore Seelster (Simon Allard), who recovered from an early break and made a three-wide backstretch brush to the front. Pacesetter No Mercy Percy (Doug McNair) rounded out the top three. Trainer-driver Ross Battin shares ownership of the Rambaran-Tiger Reigns sophomore colt with Margaret Battin of Monkton, ON. The win was Lawmen Reign’s second (consecutive) in six 2010 starts.
In the next split, Ryan Holliday sent 8-1 third choice Doug And Dude to the lead from Post 5 and held off Shadow Baran (Nick Steward) by a neck in 1:58 with Battle Ground (Trevor Henry) finishing right there in third. The four-year-old gelded son of Goliath Bayama-Napal Grace is four-for-five so far this year for trainer and breeder Ken Houston, who also co-owns with Richard McGlynn of Mount Forest, ON.
With Bruce Richardson in the bike, Western Beach, the 2-1 second choice, survived a long first over journey to prevail over front-runner Cajon Thunder (Mark Williams) by a length in 1:59.1. Glorys Motion (Brad Forward) finished third off a pocket trip. Unraced at two, three-year-old Western Beach has won five of his 11 starts for trainer David Morrissey, who owns the homebred son of Western Maverick-Beachs Luck with Leona Morrissey of Ailsa Craig, ON.
Super Colt (Thomas Hamm) was the early leader in the next division as two of the popular choices made breaks off the gate. A parked out Fuzzy Cupid (Bruce Richardson) applied first over pressure before Beechwood Wayne (Mike Horner) went three-deep to take command, but it was Lucky Gift and driver Trevor Henry who came on for the win in 2:00 flat. Western Force (Brad Forward) finished three-quarters of a length behind the 2-1 third choice forcing Beechwood Wayne to settle for show. Terry Rideout trains the winning son of Sir Luck-Bunnies Gift for Debbie Franic of Thorold, ON. The victory was Lucky Gift’s first of the season in seven tries.
Shes Alittle Lucky was the first favourite to score in the series for driver Doug McNair (five winners on the 13-race program) and trainer Gord McDonnell, who co-owns with William Hamm of West Lorne, ON. The three-year-old daughter of Camotion-Mattercycle got away last from an outside Post 7 start but advanced first over while Intoanything (Robert Shepherd) set the pace. Charmbo Lucky (Terry Kerr) pulled the pocket at the three-quarters mark but lost ground after putting in a few steps. Meanwhile, Shes Alittle Lucky dropped down along the pylons and found an open lane as the pacesetter drifted off the rail. Shes Alittle Lucky prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.3 over Intoanything while Gypsy Starlight (Trevor Henry) completed the triactor. The win was her second consecutive and third in four tries this year.
Next, Trevor Henry sent 1-2 favourite Whisperinyourear to the lead at the half from third and the daughter of Grinfromeartoear-Imagined Whisper filly found the wire just in time to score in 1:59 by a neck. J M Lasstax (Greg Dustin) was right there for second and Exotic Star (Doug McNair) finished third. The sophomore filly, who is now three-for-four this year, is owned by trainer Paul Taylor and Jody Villeneuve of Val Caron, ON.
Leverage (Doug McNair) went three-wide around a troubled Ella V Horse (Alex Lilley), who hooked wheels with Honey Rider (Andy Moore), but couldn’t catch pacesetter Jael Seelster, the 3-2 favourite, in rein to three-time winner Trevor Henry. The favoured daughter of Camluck-Juno Laag was a 4-1/2 length winner in her filly division in 1:58.3, giving trainer Paul Taylor a double. Owned by Richard Villeneuve of Val Caron, ON, the three-year-old picked up her first victory in 11 career starts.
Driver Doug McNair found himself back in the winner’s circle after steering Starting Bid, the 2-1 second choice, to victory in the fastest and final split in 1:57.4. The three-year-old daughter of Camluck-Smiling Beauty broke her maiden with the front-end score for trainer and part-owner Gregg McNair. Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke and David Carson of Listowel, ON also share ownership. Northern Athena (Robert Sparling Jr.) journeyed first over and finished a half-length behind and Chantilly Ace (Simon Allard) was third.
The City Of London’s second leg will be contested next Wednesday, May 19, with the top eight money winners from the two legs returning for the $40,000 (added) final on Molson Pace night, Friday, May 28.
The City Of London Series for trotters kicks off on Friday.
To view Wednesday's results, click here.