Jamieson Leads WDC After First Leg

A second leg victory with Charleighs Angel ($21.20) propelled Canadian representative Jody Jamieson to the fore of the 2011 World Driving Championship standings at the completion of the tournament's first day

. Four races were held at Harrah's Chester Casino and Racetrack on Sunday afternoon to kick off the week-long competition.

The first leg saw American Corey Callahan and Stand By Cam ($10.20) benefit from a pocket trip behind Lord Terror (Jamieson), rallying up the open stretch to win in 1:52.1.

Jamieson then proved victorious after a tough first-over trip with trotter Charleighs Angel, holding off a late charge from Just Like Lloyd (Michael Nimczyk - Germany) to prevail in 1:59.

Sweden's Björn Goop was a most dominant winner in the third leg, drawing clear of the field with Eviction Notice N ($21.40) by a handy five lengths en route to a 1:51.2 victory.

The final leg saw Spaniard Juan Riera-Rosello placed first aboard Brickyard Toots ($61.80) as winner Elton Blue Chip (Enrico Bellei - Italy) was relegated to second placing after a pylon violation entering the open stretch.

After the first day, Jody Jamieson leads all drivers in the standings with 40 points, with Juan Riera-Rosello and Dexter Dunn (New Zealand) in a tie for second with 30 points. Corey Callahan is a close fourth, with 29 points.

"It was just a good day," Jamieson told Trot Insider. "I had a couple good horses to drive and pretty much capitalized on them and wound up on top of day one."

Tioga Downs hosts the second round of the 2011 World Driving Championship tomorrow (Monday) evening.

Here are the standings after the first of five rounds:

The 25th World Driving Championship
Rank - Driver (Country) - Points
1 - Jody Jamieson (Canada) - 40
2 - Juan Antonio Riera-Rossello (Spain) - 30
3 - Dexter Dunn (New Zealand) - 30
4 - Corey Callahan (USA) - 29
5 - Bjorn Goop (Sweden) - 26
6 - Enrico Bellei (Italy) - 25
7 - Franck Nivard (France) - 24
8 - Michael Nimczyk (Germany) - 20
9 - Chris Lewis (Australia) - 20
10 - Birger Jorgensen (Denmark) - 20

(With files from Harrah's Chester)