by Jeff Renton, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — Spare Time Rozie will be looking to notch her fifth straight victory on Monday evening (Jan. 29) at Woodbine, but Dyna Rail is hoping to make her earn it.

The pair will hook up in a C$20,000 opening leg division of the Don Mills Trotting Series, where Spare Time Rozie (post 9, Rick Zeron) will be handicapped early by an outer starting position.

Trainer Rob Harmon conditions Dyna Rail (post 5, Mark MacDonald), who has overcome some issues to race very well since being purchased by owner Chuck Campbell.

“I really liked him the first time I trained him, but his foot bled,” said Harmon, who had recently watched the 4-year-old son of Speed Dial race at Raceway Park in Toledo, Ohio. “He had a bit of a wall separation, so I patched him up before he raced for the first time at Woodbine. I didn’t think he would be that good that night, but he raced well even though his foot bled again.”

In the mile at Woodbine (Nov. 27), Harmon recruited the services of top pilot Mark MacDonald. The pair sat third throughout the dash and were 6-1/2 lengths off the lead at the three-quarter pole. MacDonald got the gelding up by three-quarters of a length at the wire, producing a mark lowering 1:55.4 performance.

After that effort, Harmon gave the career winner of eight races a rest and brought him back for qualifiers on January 5 and 12 at Mohawk.

Returning to action at Woodbine on January 22, Dyna Rail and driver Jack Moiseyev went on to notch a convincing and wrapped-up 1-1/4 length tally in 1:58.3.

“We had given him the break because we had cut a quarter crack out of his foot and he needed to recuperate,” said Harmon, who also noted that the bay is eligible to the General Brock Trotting Series, which gets underway at Woodbine in late February. “He’s still a little tender.”

Since moving into Harmon’s operation, Dyna Rail’s lines make him out to be a closer, but the 37-year-old resident of Cement City, Michigan states that he’s the versatile type if the circumstance calls for gunning out early.

“He can leave one hundred (from the starting gate), but he’s better following horses,” said Harmon. “If he can get spotted and get a little bit of a trip, he can come out and pass horses.”

19 horses have been drawn into two opening leg divisions set for Monday (Jan. 29). The Don Mills’ C$20,000 second leg is slated for February 5, while the C$65,400 (estimated) final is scheduled to take place on February 12.

The series was open to 4-year-olds who were non-winners of C$100,000 in lifetime earnings as of October 31, 2006.

Spare Time Rozie was the only mare entered into the series.

The complete opening leg divisions are listed below.

Division #1 – Race #5 – 9:04 p.m.
Post Position – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – Long On Ability – M. Saftic – S. Kerwood
2 – Noble Way – P. MacDonell – D. Tingley
3 – Kelso – Ma. MacDonald – L. Fuller
4 – Flamewalker – M. Saftic – M. La Fountaine
5 – Dyna Rail – Ma. MacDonald – R. Harmon
6 – B Cor Terry – J. Jamieson – J. Gillis
7 – Distant Memories – P. MacDonell – T. MacDonnell
8 – Unleashed Fury – M. Baillargeon – B. Baillargeon
9 – Spare Time Rozie – R. Zeron – R. Zeron
10 – Lance Hall – C. Christoforou – C. Christoforou

Division #2 – Race #7 – 9:46 p.m.
Post Position – Horse – Listed Driver – Trainer
1 – La Star Dream – R. Mayotte – R. Mayotte
2 – Armbro Doyle – P. MacDonell – G. Durand
3 – Ericskarri – P. MacDonell – B. Maxwell
4 – Random Attack – K. Oliver – K. Bax
5 – San Remo Kosmos – M. Baillargeon – B. Wallace
6 – Avenger Seelster – R. Zeron – S. Bossence
7 – Mvs Grand Ballad – Ma. MacDonald – A. Wolden
8 – Instant Photo – L. Ouellette – T. Raymer
9 – Norththerushison – M. Saftic – K. Davidson