by Ray Cotolo, for WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — That’s The Ticket charged home to win the C$427,000 Three Diamonds for 2-year-old pacing fillies at odds of 5-1 Saturday night (Nov. 19) at Woodbine Racetrack. The Chris Ryder trained pacing filly was able to convert off a perfect third-over trip from driver David Miller for her second win in 14 starts.

That’s The Ticket scores in the C$427,000 Three Diamonds final at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday.

Idyllic Beach, the 6-5 favorite, left out hard to grab command ahead of a pesky Someomensomewhere. The public’s choice posted an opening quarter of :27.2 and was unchallenged in the second quarter-mile to lead the field by the half in :56.4.

Caviart Ally came first up just after the half and supplied cover to Candlelight Dinner from fifth and That’s The Ticket in sixth. The first-over challenger pulled up along side Idyllic Beach at three-quarters in 1:25.2. In the stretch, That’s The Ticket shot off cover and delivered a stunning stretch rally to fly by her rivals with powerful strides. The Ryder trainee crossed the wire first in 1:53.4, 3-1/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Idyllic Beach. Candlelight Dinner edged out Caviart Ally for third.

Known as a front-end favoring racetrack, That’s The Ticket completely ignored the Woodbine track bias to win the Three Diamonds.

“We had planned on just racing her off the end of it there and hopefully get some cover that takes us where we needed to go,” said Miller post race. “Passed the half when they all started moving I was hoping they would get up with the leader, which they did and everything worked out good, but I moved her over at the head of the stretch and she really dug.”

That’s The Ticket, a daughter of Roll With Joe from the Artsplace mare Art Account, has shown big closing speed throughout her rookie season, including last week’s :26.4 kicker to finish second in her elimination.

Miller was confident victory was within reach with an eighth of a mile to go.

“About half way through (the stretch) she was almost up to the leader and starting to get wound up,” noted Miller, who did not drive the Ryder trained filly in the elimination. “I was feeling pretty comfortable and she won pretty handy.”

Owned by Craig Henderson, Robert Mondillo and Lawrence Minowitz, That’s The Ticket now has two wins in 14 starts and earnings of C$331,824 this season. She paid $13.70 to win.

Magic Presto launches to Goldsmith Maid victory

Sent off the 5-2 second choice, Magic Presto sat a pocket trip to 3-5 favorite Princess Aurora before edging off the pylons in the stretch and sweeping to a 1:55.4 victory in the C$447,000 Goldsmith Maid final Saturday evening (Nov. 19) at Woodbine Racetrack.

New Image Media photos

Magic Presto scores in the C$447,000 Goldsmith Maid final at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday.

Brian Sears guided Richard “Nifty” Norman trainee Magic Presto to the front before the first turn, with Temple Ruins tucking into second and Princess Aurora into third. After a :29.1 quarter, Princess Aurora pursued the front and struggled to clear to command. She managed to take the front before trotting a :58.1 half.

Maintaining control through a 1:26.3 third-quarter, Princess Aurora was soon braced by Magic Presto emerging from the pocket. Within a matter of strides, Magic Presto trotted to the lead and clear of Princess Aurora to win by 3-1/4 lengths. Temple Ruins chased the two for third and Cameron Hill finished fourth.

Winning her fourth race in nine starts this season, Magic Presto, a 2-year-old trotting filly by Kadabra from the Muscles Yankee mare In The Mean Time, returned $7.10 to win.

“It’s a good way to end the year,” Norman said following the victory. “She gets put away in good shape and I think she’ll be a good filly next year.”

Magic Presto finishes her rookie season with of C$393,049 for owners Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman, David McDuffee, and Little E LLC and could’ve made more had it not been for a sickness last month.

“Brian (Sears) actually hasn’t driven her when she’s been at her best,” noted Norman. “She had some sickness troubles during the (Ontario Sires Stakes) Super Final and the Breeders Crown, but we assured (Brian) that she was on the way back and she qualified good, so he came up.

“It was a shame she got sick for the Super Final. We tried to get her healthy, and she got healthy for the Breeders Crown, but she really wasn’t fit enough and it didn’t pay off. We got paid tonight, so it worked out good.”