by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

Toronto, ON — Stablemates Park Avenue and Gottogetoutmore delivered a one-two punch in the first of two C$35,000 divisions of the Damsel Pacing Series’ second leg at Woodbine on Thursday (March 19).

Seven lasses went postward in the initial split, with Todd Buter pupils Park Avenue and Gottogetoutmore going as a joint entry and heavily favored at 1-5 odds.

Chad Schmiedge trainee, B M Mcw (Sylvain Filion), stepped to the early lead from the outside and led the field through fractions of :27.1, :57.2, and 1:27, with Gottogetoutmore and Luc Ouellette pocket-sitting through the half-mile marker and Park Avenue (Tyler Buter) well off the pace in sixth.

B M Mcw maintained a one length lead as the fillies entered the stretch, but Onehotvett (Jack Moiseyev) and Park Avenue were in hot pursuit. As B M Mcw began to flag, Gottogetoutmore found a hole to squeeze through and overtook. When they crossed the wire, it was Park Avenue three-quarters of a length to the good in 1:55.3, with Gottogetoutmore second and B M Mcw hanging on for the show spot.

Park Avenue, a 4-year-old daughter of Keystone Raider, is owned by Lynette and Tyler Buter and Gene Oldford. This was her first visit to the winner’s circle in 2009 and boosted her career earnings to $104,509.

Buter’s third entry in the Damsel Pacing Series, Rip Rockin Lady, just missed handing the trainer a hat trick when she stepped up a little too late in the second of the two splits, and finished runner-up to Brian Lee student, Paper Cut, who won in 1:54.2.

Last week’s winner, Designated Leader (Randy Waples), seized the early lead in this field of seven mares and allowed P H Dreamer (Jody Jamieson) to tuck into the pocket spot through the early going, with longshot April Three (Mark MacDonald) rolling along in third. Paper Cut and Phil Hudon were on the move by the three-eighths pole, taking command with Designated Leader riding Hudon’s helmet through the far turn. Rip Rockin Lady, the 3-5 favorite with Tyler Buter in the bike, began to accelerate but was taken three-wide by Rick Zeron with Michelle’s Idea, making her trip that much longer.

By the top of the stretch, Paper Cut had opened up a two length lead, and while Rip Rockin Lady went after her in determined fashion, she ran out of racetrack and finished 1-1/2 lengths behind. Designated Leader was third.

This was the first win in five tries this season for Paper Cut, a 4-year-old daughter of Northern Luck-Paper Bright, owned by William Andrew, George Rogers, and Jim MacPhail. She was a bargain C$2,000 purchase at the Alberta Yearling Sale, and has now earned $106,075.