by Greg Blanchard for WEG

Toronto, ON — Keep It Real and Ideal Race, a pair of top-rated 3-year-olds from last season, drew first blood in this year’s Willowdale Pacing Series for 4-year-olds on Saturday night during another frigid evening at Woodbine Racetrack.

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Keep It Real took no prisoners in the opening division, jetting to the front for Paul MacDonell and wiring the field in 1:52.

Keep It Real took no prisoners in the opening C$35,000 division, jetting straight to the front from post nine for Paul MacDonell and wiring the field in 1:52. The 4-year-old son of Real Artist – Magical Leah repelled the pocket-sitting Panmunjom who narrowly edged out Mysticism for the show spot.

Keep It Real, who finished third in last season’s C$1.5 million Pepsi North America Cup, now has eight career wins to his credit for trainer Joey Shea and owner Wayne Whebby of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.

In the second split, Ideal Race rallied impressively from well off the pace to haul down heavy favorite Handsome Harry right at the wire in 1:52.4. Fire On The Water came through late to land the show spot.

Ideal Race, trained by Tracy Brainard was making his first start of the season after winning six times last season for Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Florida. The son of Western Terror – Eidette Hanover returned $10.30 in the mild upset victory.

The Willowdale Pacing Series will continue with third-round action next Saturday night at Woodbine.