by Jeff Renton, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, February 14, 2004… No stranger to success, Paul MacKenzie has again gotten off on the good foot in 2004.

Boasting strong numbers both in the bike and from his training outfit, the Puslinch, Ontario resident looks to roll with his success in Monday evening’s opening leg of the Ontario Boys Series at Woodbine.

MacKenzie will toss Hillarys Fame into the fold during the second of two C$18,000 splits, which has been carded as race five (9:04 pm).

Even though the Apaches Fame—Hilarious Hillary gelding has had success so far this year over Flamboro Downs’ famed half-miler, this pacer is no stranger to the lightning fast ovals of the Woodbine Entertainment circuit.

Also, being trained and driven by MacKenzie doesn’t exactly hurt either.

A 43-year-old native of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, MacKenzie has compiled a driving record of 72-38-41 from 373 starts so far this season. On the training side, performers hailing from his operation have gone 6-4-3 from 21 trips, leaving MacKenzie with a U.T.R. of .439.

In this his second year of racing, Hillarys Fame has gone a sparkling three-for-three at Flamboro for owners Kathy MacKenzie (Puslinch, Ontario) and the S S G Stables (North Boston, New York).

After sitting on the shelf for six months, the bay, who was bred by James and Roxanne Casha (Campbellville, Ontario), coasted to a ten-length score in a qualifier on January 16. Since then, Hillarys Fame has never trailed in his three contests.

Winning by 4¾ lengths in 1:57.2 in his first start back, 5½ lengths in 1:57.3 in his second mile, and by two lengths in 1:57 this past Wednesday, Hillarys Fame looks ready for his fellow Ontario-sired four-year-olds.

Purchased from the Canadian Classic Sale in Toronto in 2001, Hillarys Fame went some big miles last year early in his racing career, even though he battled sickness on and off throughout the campaign.

In only his sixth career race last March 28 at Mohawk (opening leg of the Youthful Series), the speedy performer finished a length back in second, going his mile in 1:52. In the next leg, Hillarys Fame out-dueled Border Patrol (who is racing in the Aquarius Series at The Meadowlands tonight) for second, but fell a length short of Armbro Acquire, who stopped the clock in 1:53.1.

Eventually finishing a disappointing ninth in the final, Hillarys Fame could still hold his head high, as he was butting heads in a field which also showcased both 2003 Oliver Wendell Holmes champ Quality Western and 2003 Meadowlands Pace victor Allamerican Theory.

Hillarys Fame was put on the shelf after competing in his division of the Canadian Breeders’ Championship last July 19, finishing his inaugural campaign with a record of 3-2-1, including a score over the Woodbine seven-eighths.

Set to leave from post six in the 11-horse test, Hillarys Fame will again host MacKenzie in the bike.

Getting the nod as the 7-2 morning line favourite, Hillarys Fame will be exiting one slot down from Jackie Brown (4-1), who is fresh off his two-length score in 1:55.3 during the C$51,400 final of the Snowshoe Series.

Johnny Paycheque, who missed taking the $42,000 final of the Valedictory Series on December 27 by a half-length, has also been pegged at 4-1 in the morning line and will leave from post nine.

As always, Monday evening’s program of racing will be highlighted as part of coast-to-coast coverage in Canada on the Score network. The show starts at 7:30 pm and runs through to 10:00 pm.

First race post time is 7:40 pm.

The full fields for both of the Ontario Boys Series’ opening leg splits are as follows:

3 — Pace, purse C$18,000 (EX, P3, P7, TR)

THE ONTARIO BOYS PACING SERIES – 1ST LEG – 4 YEAR OLDS.

ONTARIO SIRED NON-WINNERS $60,000 LIFETIME AS OF OCTOBER 31, 2003. Post time: 08:22 P.M.
PP – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer – Line
1 – I Dream Of Jme – Ra. Waples – P. Taylor – 15-1
2 – So Lucky Hanover – M. Saftic – G. Gordon – 5-2
3 – Hustlin Rustler – L. Ouellette – M. Harder – 4-1
4 – Dewys Place – S. Weber – C. Hie – 8-1
5 – Whitesand Dancer – M. Baillargeon – B. Baillargeon – 12-1
6 – Rusty Pulse – K. Oliver – A. Moore – 20-1
7 – Autobahn Deets – P. MacDonell – B. Tropea – 6-1
8 – Terrific Gord – R. Mayotte – S. Donaldson – 7-1
9 – Smoke N Sizzle – S. Condren – C. Beelby – 7-2
10 – Just Iffy – Br. Richardson – V. Gregg – 30-1

5 — Pace, purse C$18,000 (EX, P3, SF, TR)

PP – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer – Line
1 – Fort Apache – M. Saftic – T. Boyd – 8-1
2 – Vijay Rocket – R. Zeron – P. Taylor – 15-1
3 – Richlyn Paul – C. Johnston – R. Griffiths – 20-1
4 – Bingo Bert – Ra. Waples – K. McMaster – 6-1
5 – Jackie Brown – L. Ouellette – S. Gilmour – 4-1
6 – Hillarys Fame – P. MacKenzie – P. MacKenzie – 7-2
7 – Joe Canadian – M. Baillargeon – J. Lepage – 20-1
8 – Rocky Maivia – S. Condren – I. Reid – 20-1
9 – Johnny Paycheque – C. Christoforou – R. Hie – 4-1
10 – One Shot Away – P. MacDonell – B. Wallace – 9-2
11 – Chillofalifetime – K. Oliver – D. Fisher – 20-1