by Greg Blanchard for WEG

Toronto, ON — Kims Quest grabbed control of the racetrack early and then stole her way to victory in the C$60,000 Blizzard Pacing Series final for 3 and 4-year-old fillies and mares on Thursday night at Woodbine Racetrack.

The sophomore daughter of Royal Mattjesty – Michelles Destiny was sent straight to command for driver Luc Ouellette from post four and quickly stacked up her nine rivals in behind her through a moderate opening quarter of :28.4.

In the meantime, heavily favored Miss Sand Creek, who had won in both preliminary legs, got away ninth and last and was at a major disadvantage from the outset.

Kims Quest continued uncontested through a first half of just :58.1, leaving her with plenty left in the tank for the final half. Ouellette asked the filly for more in the third quarter and she zipped past the third panel in 1:26 before polishing off the victory with a :28.3 final quarter to stop the clock in 1:54.3.

The Mistress made an impressive uncovered rally in the final half to finish second with Allamerican Damsel rounding out the top three and Miss Sand Creek never did fire, eventually finishing last. The winner returned a generous $9.00 for the victory.

It was the first win in two tries this season and just the second lifetime for Kims Quest who is trained by Michael Grant for 1187422 Ontario Inc. of Gloucester, Ontario.

Giddy Up Delight looks to step up in Snowshoe final

He didn’t prevail in any of the six divisions in the first two legs of the Snowshoe Pacing series, but expect Giddy Up Delight to give a winning effort when C$64,100 final goes Friday night at Woodbine.

Now, the 4-year-old Bettors Delight gelding, trained by Joey Shea for his cousin David Shea of Campbellville, is hardly a 50-1 longshot, but the mild upset is possible at a value price.

The New Jersey-bred is listed at 9-2 in the morning line after finishing second in both legs to the final’s 3-1 early choice, Cane Ridge.

Shea, who has 329 career wins, figures Giddy Up Delight is set for a stakes title. “He seems good. He trained good this week and he came out of the race last week really good, so we’re hoping for a big check.”

Unlocking the pace mystery of the Snowshoe may be the key factor in uncovering the winner. The final appears to have more front end speed than any of the other divisions of the preliminary races.

Giddy Up Delight was out of his element in the early legs, being on or near the lead through the opening splits. Shea noticed and a return to his off-the-pace style is preferred.

“He was also on the front end at Woodbine once last year and it was windy and he got caught right on the wire (February 22, finished second),” Shea, who trains five for his cousin, said. “He would rather come from fourth or fifth, or even further back than that. That’s the way he likes it, but it all depends on how the race sets up.”

Paul MacDonell, with seven wins on the campaign, gets the return call from post five.

Racing fans may remember Shea as the trainer of Keep It Real, the post-time favorite for the 26th running of the Pepsi North America Cup last June. Keep It Real finished third behind Well Said in WEG’s signature race, but is set to become one of the dominant four-year-olds of the early stakes season.

Shea sends out Keep It Real and Handsome Harry in the second leg of the Willowdale Pacing Series on Saturday.

As for the rest of the Snowshoe, it is a wide-open, excellent betting race. Cane Ridge (post 1, driver Rick Zeron, trainer Travis Umphrey) is the legit early choice off his two wins and fine gate lick, but Lake Shark (3, Mark MacDonald, Casie Coleman), the 4-1 second choice, has speed as well and may challenge early.

Pinner (Anthony MacDonald, Zaim Cunmulaj) who also won two early divisions is the 5-1 fourth choice and appears to be peaking off three straight scores, but drew post nine.