Frenchfrysnvinegar was a front-stepping winner in Monday’s $35,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Racetrack, but she had a bit of help when the odds-on favourite made a break in deep stretch
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Keith Oliver hustled Frenchfrysnvinegar to immediate command from the rail, and she rolled the field through solid panels of :26.2, :55.4 and 1:25.3. She had a comfortable lead coming out of the final turn, but the 2-5 favourite, Il Villaggio, was starting a huge rally from the back of the pack. He was gaining ground with every stride, but over-trotted himself and rolled into a very costly break.
Frenchfrysnvinegar ended up drawing off to win by three lengths over Equity in a career-best clocking of 1:53.4. Third prize went to Kashs Caviar.
Jeff Gillis trains the six-year-old daughter of Angus Hall-Gugus for owner David Smith of Rockwood, ON. The victory improved her 2011 record to 4-4-0 in 10 tries, and it goes down as her 18th lifetime tally. She has potted more than $353,000 to date.
A pair of North America Cup-prepping pacers finished first and second just two races later in an $18,000 conditioned event.
On The Radar, who is 50-1 in Trot Magazine's Pepsi North America Cup Spring Book beat National Interest, who is 85-1, in an impressive clocking of 1:52.3.
Both colts raced from off the pace as Heracles Won supplied the field with fractions of :26.4, :55.2 and 1:24.1. Jamieson kicked off cover with On The Radar and used a :27.1 final quarter to win by half a length over National Interest, who roared home in :26.4.
Blair Burgess trains On The Radar, a homebred son of Western Hanover-Arts Reality, for the Brittany Farms of Versailles, KY. National Interest, a homebred son of Western Hanover-Catch A Wish, is trained by Eric Adams for the Millar Farms of Newmarket, ON.
Rock To Glory (35-1) survived a first-over trip en route to improving his record to 2-for-2 this season for trainer Casie Coleman. Mark MacDonald mapped out the winning trip for the son of Rocknroll Hanover-Faded Glory, who got up in the final strides to stop the teletimer in 1:52.3. He won his seasonal debut at Woodbine one week ago in 1:50.
The victory was the fourth lifetime tally in 12 tries for the gelding, who is owned by Mac Nichol of Burlington, ON. Nichol purchased the pacer privately early in his rookie campaign, and to date the pacer has banked $125,052.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.