by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Icthelight Hanover and Jimbelina made their sire Big Jim proud in the opening round of the Niagara Series Friday night (Dec. 9) at Woodbine Racetrack. A group of 16 sophomore pacing fillies battled over two C$17,000 first leg divisions Friday evening.

Icthelight Hanover kicked the series off by scoring a 13-1 upset for trainer/driver Rick Zeron.

New Image Media photo

Icthelight Hanover does her daddy proud in the Niagara Series at Woodbine Racetrack on Friday night.

The daughter of Big Jim blasted to the front from the eight-hole and posted an opening quarter-mile of :28. The public’s choice, Hot Spot Hanover, circled around from the two-hole to grab command heading towards the half-mile and posted fractions of :57.2 and 1:26.

In the stretch, Hot Spot Hanover could not live up to her 2-5 billing and gave way to Icthelight Hanover up the inside. The Zeron trainee was able to muscle by the favorite and reached the line a nose ahead of an outside charging Queenofthejungle for a 1:54.1 score.

Hot Spot Hanover finished third.

Icthelight Hanover now has five wins and over C$49,000 earned this season in 25 starts. The sophomore pacing filly has now visited the winner’s circle six times in her career and banked C$69,056 for owner Holland Racing Stable.

The Zeron trainee paid $28.80 to win.

The second division saw another opening quarter-mile leader click off a two-hole trip, as Jimbelina won in a career best 1:52.2. The Rene Bourassa trainee was fired out from post seven by Sylvain Filion and posted a snappy opening-quarter of :26.2. Before the field could enter the backstretch, Docs Sausalito was out of the two-hole to circle around to command.

Docs Sausalito kept the tempo honest, pacing by the half-mile in :55.2 and three-quarters in 1:24. In the stretch, Jimbelina was angled to the outside and immediately surged by Docs Sausalito to go on for a 1-1/2 length victory. Docs Sausalito finished second, while Art Angel Baby was third.

A daughter of Big Jim, Jimbelina made just C$360 in three starts as a rookie, but now is an eight-time winner with over C$47,000 banked in 17 starts as a 3-year-old. The Bourassa trainee is owned by Roland Trudel.

Jimbelina paid $7.10 to win.

Three-year-old pacing fillies, who were non-winners of C$60,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, were eligible to the Niagara Series. Round two of the series will take place next Friday (Dec. 16).

Live racing continues Saturday evening (Dec. 10) at Woodbine Racetrack with the first leg of the Valedictory Series and a C$34,000 Preferred Pace headlining an 11-race card. Post time is 7:30 p.m.