It was a very good night at the office for the WEG circuit’s leading driver, Jody Jamieson, who captured both eliminations for next week’s SBOA Stakes
for three-year-old fillies.
In the $25,000 trotting elimination, 17-1 shot Novelty AS grabbed the early lead for Jody Jamieson, and then gave way to Randy Waples and Mets Inn at the 3/8 marker. She found herself without racing room in the pocket spot as the field entered the stretch, but wiggled through on the inside in the final strides to overcome the late-charging Magic Sassy (Rick Zeron), Cuddler (Mario Baillargeon), and favourite Ill Wait For You (Trevor Ritchie).
Novelty AS delivered the win in 1:56.3, a new lifetime mark. Magic Sassy was half a length behind in second, and Cuddler and Ill Wait For You dead-heated for third.
The daughter of Striking Sahbra out of the Mack Lobell mare Noblesse AS is owned by ACL Stuteri Ab of Paris, Kentucky, and trained by Anette Lorentzon. This was her first victory of the 2009 season and her second, lifetime, in a total of 12 tarts. She returned $37.70, $13.10 and $4.90.
“I was surprised the pace was so slow,” commented Jamieson. “There wasn’t much room on the inside. I just prayed for a miracle and we fired right through that spot.
“They made some changes to her equipment and it made a 100% difference to her tonight.”
The focus switched to pacing lasses in the second $25,000 SBOA elimination, and Jamieson again pulled out the stops to deliver a victory for his father, trainer Carl Jamieson, with Windsong Filou, in 1:52.3.
Positioning his filly comfortably in third through the early fractions, Jamieson let Keith Oliver and Coming Late take command, with Cheap Motel and Luc Ouellette pocket-sitting. Cheap Motel went on the attack and cleared at the 3/8 pole, but Jamieson waited till the top of the lane to angle Windsong Filou out to challenge on the outside. A game Cheap Motel battled back, but gave way in the final strides to allow the hard-driving Windsong Filou the victory.
Coming Late gave a late surge to get second by half a length, and Cheap Motel settled for third.
Carl Jamieson trains and co-owns Windsong Filou with Dr. Michael Wilson, Thomas Kyron, and the Lobro Stables of London, Ontario. The Astreos filly can now boast three victories in 12 starts this season, for career earnings just over $250,000.
“Filou drew good for once. When I came, I just came as hard as I could and she held on,” said Jamieson. “She was sharp tonight. She’s got gate speed; sitting up close and one run is probably her best trip.”
Windsong Filou paid $9.80, $4.90 and $3.70 for her efforts.
The top eight finishers from each of tonight’s eliminations will join two fillies who have been given a bye for next Friday’s $201,000 and $180,000 (est.) SBOA Stakes finals at Mohawk.
Jamieson guided a total six winners on the 12-race card including Dance With Me Dee (1:54) for trainer Tony O'Sullivan, Movin Over (1:56.2) for Lori Jackson, Sammy Syd (1:51.1) for Jean Young, and Play At Wynn (1:51.2) for Casie Coleman.
In the Fillies & Mares Open Pace, Quail Seelster benefitted from a ground saving trip to pocket the lion’s share of the $44,000 purse.
Blissful Smile (Jody Jamieson) showed early gate speed from the centre of the track and put up a :27 first quarter as Quail Seelster tucked into the four-hole from Post 2 under the guidance of Jack Moiseyev. From there, Miss Scarlett (Rick Zeron) made a backstretch brush and reached up for the lead past the half in :56 before revving her engine and firing past three-quarters in 1:22.4. In the stretch, To Helen Back found room to shoot up the inside, but Quail Seelster ducked in between horses down the lane and powered past both her rivals on the far outside for the victory in a life’s best 1:50.1.
To Helen Back finished three-quarters of a length back in second over Miss Scarlett.
The five-year-old daughter of Camluck-Queen From Omaha scored her fourth win in 10 tries this year and 14th of her career. Trained by Michael Grant for 1187422 Ontario Inc. of Gloucester, Ont., Quail Seelster surpassed the $400,000 mark in career earnings with the win.
To view Friday’s harness racing results, click here.
(With files from WEG)