Favourites Falter In Glorys Comet Opener

Scorpion Moon and Chick N Tell drew first blood in Saturday night's opening leg of the Glorys Comet Trotting Series at Woodbine Racetrack.

Scorpion Moon elevated his game and turned in a ferocious final-quarter rally to haul down favourite Please Poppy in the opening $50,000 division for driver Josh Marks in 1:54.

The eight-year-old gelding, who was a 17-time winner in 2008, got away fourth in the early going from Post 2 and watched as Mystical Ryan (Mario Baillargeon) put up first-half fractions of :27.3 and :57 seconds.

As the field entered the final turn, Please Poppy (Jack Moiseyev) tipped out from third and Scorpion Moon was able to follow his cover past three-quarters in 1:25.2. In the stretch, Scorpion Moon kicked off cover and wore down Please Poppy right at the finish. Veteran Abbey Road C (Keith Jones) came on late to pick up the show spot.

Scorpion Moon returned $17.70 in capturing his 57th career win. The victory vaulted him past $500,000 in lifetime earnings for trainer Tracy Brainard who co-owns along with Andrew Herzog of Monticello, New York.

In the second division, Chick N Tell flashed uncustomary early speed and took charge in the early going through splits of :27.2 and :57.1. As the field made their way to three-quarters, race favourite San Pail (Randy Waples) came on the attack but was not able to get up to the wheel of the pacesetter who led past the third panel in 1:26.1.

As the field turned for home, pocket-sitter Enny Youngman (Mario Baillargeon) found room and came to the outside to challenge and a rejuvenated San Pail made it a three-wide finish.

In the end, Mike Saftic and Chick N Tell were able to hold on narrowly with Enny Youngman edging out San Pail for the place spot in the 1:54.2 mile. The winner returned $8.80 for the win.

It was the 28th career victory for the seven-year-old and vaulted him over the $500,000 mark in career earnings for trainer Stephen Doyle who co-owns along with John Simmonds of King City, Ontario.

Round two of the Glorys Comet comes up next Saturday night at Woodbine.

In other action, trainer Casie Coleman scored a hat trick this evening with teamster Randy Waples. Lucky Man (1:52.4) was the second race winner for the duo while Veal Marsala (1:52) upset in the ninth race. In the eighth race, Our Lucky Killean (1:52.3) gave Coleman her third win on the 11-dash card.

Coleman was 2008’s top money-earning trainer at WEG and Woodstock Raceway and is in the running for her third O’Brien Award for Trainer of the Year.

To view Saturday’s results, click here.

(With files from WEG)