by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

TORONTO, April 8, 2006 – He had finished second in both preliminary legs of the 2006 Spring Pacing Championship, but, on Saturday evening at Woodbine, Primetime Bobcat ($39.70, $14.20, $6.50) and driver Jody Jamieson got the job done when it mattered most, posting a nose victory in a life’s best 1:49.4 during the C$115,500 final.

Tigerama ($9.30, $4.60) and pilot Mark MacDonald went a big trip and were just short in the Win photo, settling to bottom the handsome $198.40 exactor.

With Chris Christoforou in tow, Roddys Bags Again ($2.90) finished third, just a half-length behind Primetime Bobcat, and rounded out the $597.90 triactor.

Jack Moiseyev was at the lines of Our Lucky Killean, who finished fourth; while Holborn Hanover, who was sent off as the 8-5 favourite steered by Rick Zeron, finished fifth.

After leaving from post eight, Jamieson and Primetime Bobcat settled for second along the cones, as MacDonald and Tigerama clawed to the front from post nine and clicked off the opening quarter in :26.1.

Tigerama and Primetime Bobcat were one-two at the half-mile pole, reached in 55 seconds-flat.

In the second quarter, Christoforou and Roddys Bags Again came first-up from fourth, and the duo cleared to the lead heading into the final turn.

Primetime Bobcat, a gelded son of Abercrombie, sat fourth, third along the rail, as Roddys Bags Again froze the three-quarters clock in 1:22.1.

Tigerama vacated the pocket in the stretch and fought tough and nail with Roddys Bags Again.

Emerging from third and racing in the three-wide path, Jamieson got Primetime Bobcat to pounce at the right time, digging in and getting up just before the wire.

On February 18, trainer Tony Montini and co-owners Basil Michele, and William and Joseph Rogers claimed Primetime Bobcat for $100,000.

What a claim that has proved to be.

From his 11 starts this season, Primetime Bobcat now holds a record of 7-2-0.

In his 166-race career, Primetime Bobcat has a record of 38-27-22.

Primetime Bobcat was named after Bob McCown, the renowned sports talk radio host who can be heard on The Fan 590 and seen on Rogers Sportsnet.

Celia’s Counsel starts Tuesday

Twenty-five three-year-old fillies have drawn into three C$18,000 opening leg divisions of the Celia’s Counsel Trotting Series, scheduled for Tuesday evening at Woodbine.

The series was restricted to non-winners of $30,000 in lifetime earnings, as of December 31, 2005.

The C$18,000 second leg will be contested April 11, while the C$50, 600 (estimated) final will take place on April 25.

Sadie H Hershey (PP5, Greg Wright Jr., 3-5) a Conway Hall filly trained by Norm Parker, has drawn mid-gate in the eight-horse opening split (Race 2, 7:59 p.m.).

The bay homebred of D. Lloyd Mathieson went unraced at two and has won her first three races (all at the Meadows) to start the 2006 campaign. Sadie H Hershey holds a mark of 1:59.3, taken in a 3½-length performance on March 30.

Crimson Image (PP8, Wayne Henry, 9-2) has drawn the outside starting spot in the second division (Race 4, 8:37 p.m.) and will be piloted by his trainer.

Henry also co-owns the chestnut daughter of Balanced Image, who missed the board in all of her four starts at two. The filly has made a pair of starts this season, breaking her maiden with a three-length win in 2:00.1 at Pompano Park on March 15.

Lanterns Joy (PP3, John Duke Sugg, 3-1) has been named the morning line favourite in the third split (Race 7, 9:34 p.m.) and will be racing from the Retention Barn.

Sugg also trains the Enjoy Lavec filly, who is entering the race off a wire-to-wire performance at Windsor Raceway on March 29, where she stopped the clock in 2:01.2.

The complete fields for the opening leg are listed below.

Division #1
Post Position – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds
1 – Delcrest Luckygirl – T. Ritchie – D. Delaney – 8-1
2 – Suzies On A Roll – M. Saftic – S. Kerwood – 8-1
3 – Gyration Hanover – Ra. Waples – B. Pittock – 10-1
4 – Itchthatscratch – J. Moiseyev – J. Bothwell – 10-1
5 – Sadie H Hershey – G. Wright Jr. – N. Parker – 3-5
6 – Kings Keepsake – G. Whelan – J. Whelan – 7-1
7 – Junglepan – Ph. Hudon – R. Wedow – 15-1
8 – Lend A Hand – R. Zeron – R. McIntosh – 10-1

Division #2
Post Position – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds
1 – Shezatramp – Do. Brown – G. Zirnis – 8-1
2 – Armbro Deliberate – R. Zeron – I. Downey – 9-2
3 – Corries Glory – J. Moiseyev – T. Artandi – 4-1
4 – Oughta Be The One – Ro. Waples – Ro. Waples – 5-1
5 – Blueridge Yankee – R. Mayotte – S. McEneny – 10-1
6 – Incredibly Elegant – Ra. Waples – K. Jones – 10-1
7 – Armbro Domino – C. Christoforou – R. Laarman – 5-2
8 – Crimson Image – W. Henry – W. Henry – 9-2

Division #3
Post Position – Horse – Driver – Trainer – Morning Line Odds
1 – Baby American – M. Saftic – P. Taylor – 7-1
2 – Sandras Pleasure – Da. Wall – B. Hodgson – 8-1
3 – Lanterns Joy – J. Sugg – J. Sugg – 3-1
4 – Tallamore – R. Mayotte – S. Kerwood – 8-1
5 – Self Desire – R. Zeron – R. McIntosh – 4-1
6 – I Believe In You – J. Raymer – T. Raymer – 8-1
7 – Trotting Lucsambo – R. Turcotte – D. Turcotte – 6-1
8 – Helens Melons – Do. Brown – G. Zirnis – 6-1
9 – Mon Amour Hall – P. MacDonell – S. McEneny – 7-1

Note: Lanterns Joy will be racing from the Retention Barn.