by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Trainer Frank O’Reilly will be looking to make the most of his trip to Woodbine on Monday night (Jan. 23) as he sends out a pair of entries in the C$75,000 Lifetime Dream Trotting Series final.

Sashay and Maplegrove Shaelyn have each won a division of the two-leg series prior to the rich final for O’Reilly. Sashay will begin from post four for driver Sylvain Filion while Maplegrove Shaelyn will leave from post six for driver Mike Saftic.

Sashay will start from post four in the Lifetime Dream final.

“I think they both have a good chance to win,” O’Reilly said. “Last week, Sashay was okay, but not great and she still finished second. If she’s on her game, she’s the one to beat in my opinion.”

Sashay, a 4-year-old daughter of Yankee Glide, has banked $122,698 for owners Steve Stewart and Randall Day.

“She’s such a big, powerful mare,” the Guelph resident said. “She doesn’t do anything wrong in the barn and is a true professional.
She’s just a sweetheart to have.”

Maplegrove Shaelyn has been in the O’Reilly stable for three starts and is a welcome edition. The daughter of American Native has banked $109,060 for breeder/owner Joseph Mullins.

“She’s also a nice mare to have in the barn,” O’Reilly said. “She has post six and she’s very versatile, so they plays into her favor.”

The veteran conditioner admits he didn’t expect to be training Maplegrove Shaelyn.

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Maplegrove Shaelyn has earned $109,060 in her career.

“To be honest, a friend of mine put me in touch with Joe,” O’Reilly said. “He was sending the mare up to Canada for the Lifetime Dream Series and my friend recommended me. I guess it’s better to be lucky than good.”

Last season, O’Reilly’s stable earned $493,526 from just 96 starters.

“I tell everyone that I have better luck with four-legged females than two,” O’Reilly laughed.

The series is for 4- and 5-year-old trotting mares in 2012, who were non-winners of C$200,000 lifetime as of midnight, October 31, 2011.

The 2011 edition of the Lifetime Dream was won by the Daren Harvey-trained PJ’s Photo in 1:55.3. The mare was driven to victory by Paul MacDonell for owner/breeder Pius Soehnlen.

First race post time is set for 7:10 p.m.

The field will line up as follows: 1. Lively, 2. Defy Time, 3. Firstclassprincess, 4. Sashay, 5. Runaway Misty, 6. Maplegrove Shaelyn, 7. Maple Leaf Spirit, 8. Unefoisdansmavie, 9. Miss Dangles, 10. Cleopatre Duharas.

Also, on Monday, the C$50,000 Blizzard Pacing Series final will be contested in race six.

The field will line up as follows: 1. Cocoa Beach, 2. Artistic Music, 3. Ms Curator, 4. Shine N Shimmer, 5. The Summer Wind, 6. D Gs Tinkerbell, 7. Bee Fullof Steinam, 8. Cards That Count, 9. Dream Outloud, 10. Rock Ann Rolling.