It was a tough night for the favourites in Monday’s second leg of the Ontario Spring Series for three-year-old fillies at Woodbine Racetrack as the top choice in both $20,000 splits went down to defeat
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The first victim was Manvers Short Cut who rallied from seventh to finish third behind longshot On The Cusp who clicked in a sparkling 1:53. That daughter of Camluck-Headline Hanover made a quarter-pole move to the front and then fought off a late surge from Warm Waffles to record her first career win.
On The Cusp returned $34.00 in winning for trainer David Byron and owners Sit N Go Stables, Steve Byron, Ian Macintosh and John Van Reenen of Ontario.
For driver Steve Byron, the victory was the 3,000th of his career. The veteran teamster, who began his driving career in 1984, has put away more than $1 million in earnings in each of the last nine seasons. There’s a good chance he’ll surpass $19 million in lifetime earnings this season.
In the second split, favourite Theta Blue Chip put in a few rough steps at the start while Windsong Grand Ave seized early control of the race and never looked back for a 1:55 tally. Theta Blue Chip recovered and rallied sharply for the place spot with Nifty Ace rounding out the top three.
It was also a maiden-breaking win for Windsong Grand Ave who kicked back $12.40 for the win. The daughter of Camluck-Jasper Avenue - a half-sister to the stakes-winning Windsong Filou - is trained by Shawn Robinson for owners Bill Loyens and Harry Loyens of Ontario.
The $60,000 Ontario Spring Series final will go postward next Monday night at Woodbine.
(WEG)
To view Monday’s results, click here.