Sophomores found themselves in the spotlight Thursday evening at Woodbine Racetrack, as colts and geldings sparred in round two of The Diplomat Series while the fillies went head-to-head in the second leg of the Princess Series.
Belle Boyd rallied from a very tough spot to win the lone division of the Princess Series for Team Jamieson, and she picked up a new lifetime mark in the process.
The daughter of Art Major-Yankee Luck sat fifth through first-half fractions of :27.2 and :58.1 before catching cover and going into attack mode. She was third and parked at the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3, but she was still six lengths away from race leader Super Soph.
Super Soph was no match for Belle Boyd in the lane, however, as that fleet-footed foe kicked home in :26.1 to win by a half-length margin over Super Soph in 1:53. Notalkingback was third best.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite in the $20,000 tilt, Belle Boyd improved this year's record to six wins in as many tries for co-owner/trainer Carl Jamieson and partners Joanne
Morrison and Tom Kyron. Jody Jamieson mapped out the winning trip for the seven-time winner, who upped her lifetime earnings to $110,475 with the victory.
Rockin Wizard went to the front and didn't look back for driver Randy Waples in the lone, $20,000 division of The Diplomat Series. The three-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Please Me Please sprinted to the position of command from Post 4 and proceeded to whack out fractions of :27.3, :56.3 and 1:24.1 before scooting home in :27.4 en route to the neck decision over longshot Orillia Joe in 1:52. Scott Rocks fired home in :25.4 to finish third.
Bob McIntosh trains the gelding for owner/breeder Lothlorien of Cheltenham, ON. It was the fifth win of the season in just six tries for Rockin Wizard, who was unraced as a rookie. The $10,000 payday lifted his lifetime earnings to $48,500.
Both finals will be contested Saturday, May 11 at Woodbine, with the fillies chasing a purse of $55,600 in the Princess Series while the colts and geldings will square off for a pirse of $55,800 in the final of The Diplomat Series.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.