from Greg Blanchard (WEG Media)

Toronto, ON — Lorenzo Dream played the role of giant killer in Thursday’s C$60,000 Tie Silk Trotting Series final at Woodbine Racetrack when he upended the heavily favored Go Go Red Marty in 1:55.4.

New Image Media

Lorenzo Dream upended the heavily favored Go Go Red Marty in 1:55.4 in Thursday’s C$60,000 Tie Silk Trotting Series final at Woodbine Racetrack.

Sylvain Filion guided the 3-year-old son of Taurus Dream – Langala Dream from post two in the field of nine. They got away third in the opening quarter of :28.2 before moving to the outside in the second panel and surging towards the front.

Go Go Red Marty, who was in search of his fifth straight win, beat Lorenzo Dream to the punch and took over briefly but was forced to give way at the half in :57.4. With the backfield starting to rally, Mike Saftic brought Go Go Red Marty out of the pocket to challenge right at the third marker of 1:27.2.

Lorenzo Dream was up to the task and fought off the stern challenge with a :28.2 final quarter to win by half a length. Go Go Red Marty held the place spot with Whit Ken Win another eight lengths back in third. The winner returned a generous $24.90 for the win.

“Last week he (Lorenzo Dream) raced real good,” said winning driver Sylvain Filion. “It didn’t show on TV, but he was hitting the bike and I couldn’t really let him go. I had to hold on to him pretty much the whole mile. I got to the wire with the ear plugs in and plenty of horse left. I knew he was better than what he showed last week. We were aiming for a win this week.”

The win was the first of the season in three starts for Lorenzo Dream who is owned and trained by breeder Jean Pierre Dubois’ Reve Avec Moi Dreamwithme of Knowlton, Qc.

A Pippin Hanover, Slimsplace draw first blood In Princess Series

Slimsplace and A Pippin Hanover both emerged victorious in Thursday night’s first leg of the Princess Pacing Series for 3-year-old fillies at Woodbine Racetrack.

Slimsplace turned in an impressive two-move effort to take the opening C$25,000 split for driver Randy Waples in 1:53.2 – fastest of the two divisions. The daughter of Artsplace – Shes Beachy turned back Makes You Wonder by 2-3/4 lengths with Cams Cupid rounding out the top three.

The winner returned $4.50 as the public’s choice.

It was the third win in seven trips postward this season for Slimsplace who is co-owned by trainer Jeff Gillis along with Ellen Ott of Buffalo, New York.

In the second contest, A Pippin Hanover, making her first start since her February 11th win in the Miss Vera Bars final, scored wire-to-wire for driver Mark MacDonald in 1:54.1. The daughter of Dragon Again – Appleonia Art held off Artcam by a half-length with favorite Cowboys Dreamer finishing a locked-in third.

A Pippin Hanover rewarded her backers with an $8.50 win return.

The win was the fourth in just five career starts for the Kris Di Cenzo trainee who is owned by Antonio Chiaravalle of Hamilton, Ontario.

The Princess Pacing Series will continue with second-round action next Thursday night at Woodbine.