by Ashley Mayotte, WEG communications

Toronto, ON — Woodbine is offering a stakes-filled card this Saturday (April 7) and on one of the biggest Standardbred programs so far this year, racing fans will be treated to a trio of top-notch stakes finals.

Trotting titan San Pail will take on six others in the C$125,000 Glorys Comet final, while Golden Receiver will compete against nine older pacers in the C$125,000 Spring Pacing Championship.

Ten 3-year-old pacers will also contest the C$50,000 Youthful Series final where the Rob Fellows-trained Piston Broke hopes to find the winner’s circle.

All three are looking to pull off a series sweep.

The stakes action starts early with the Glorys Comet in the second race.

After capturing both preliminary legs of the series, San Pail, reigning Horse of the Year in Canada and the U.S., will look to win his second consecutive Glorys Comet title and extend his unbeaten streak to 10.

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Mister Herbie will be looking to upset San Pail in the Glorys Comet.

In the opening round, the Rod Hughes trainee ended Mister Herbie’s eight-race win streak. The talented Jeff Gillis pupil will look to return the favor this weekend.

But it won’t be an easy task.

“I think his (Mister Herbie) chances might be a little bit better this week,” said Jody Jamieson, the gelding’s regular reinsman. “I think it helps sometimes to know the competition and Mister Herbie got a chance to acquaint himself with the great San Pail. I think he will be that much more suited to have a shot at keeping up to him. Obviously, we are going to try to beat him, but we are going to try and keep up to him first.”

Owned by the partnership of Jeff Gillis, Gerald Stay and Mac Nichol, Mister Herbie, the 2011 OSS Super Final winner, has crafted a lifetime record of 12-4-3 in 27 outings with $388,895 in career earnings.

“I think he must have a huge set of lungs and a big heart,” said Jamieson, Canada’s 2011 Driver of the Year. “He just tries hard all the time and puts his head down and digs. Every time he goes behind the gate, he gives a top effort and two weeks ago was no different when San Pail trotted by him.”

The 4-year-old gelding, however, missed the second leg of the Glorys Comet due to a quarter crack on his back right hoof.

“We are heading in the right direction,” Gillis said. “We are pretty proud of our horse, too, and we think that he is a legitimate contender.”

The reigning O’Brien Award-winning trainer believes the son of Here Comes Herbie-Independent Lassie will become a force to be reckoned with as the year goes on.

“I wouldn’t trade my horse for San Pail,” the conditioner said. “I think we have a huge future.”

Gillis will also send out Canada’s Older Trotting Mare of the Year, Frenchfrysnvinegar, to take on the boys in the rich Glorys Comet final and Aahm A Gesture in the Youthful final.

Race 2-C$125,000 Glorys Comet
PP-Horse-Listed Driver
1. San Pail–Randy Waples
2. Frenchfrysnvinegar–Keith Oliver
3. Mr Web Page–Mario Baillargeon
4. Mister Herbie–Jody Jamieson
5. Windsong Geant–Rick Zeron
6. Order By Roosevelt–Paul MacDonell
7. Hava Kadabra–Sylvain Filion

Race 8-C$125,000 Spring Pacing Championship
PP-Horse-Listed Driver
1. Classic Rock Nroll–Jody Jamieson
2. St Elmo Hero–Scott Zeron
3. Melvyn–Luc Ouellette
4. Camaes Fellow–Jody Jamieson
5. Golden Receiver–Randy Waples
6. Aracache Hanover–Doug McNair
7. Bettor’s Reward–Stephane Bouchard
8. Mach Dreamer–Rick Zeron
9. Sparky Mark–Sylvain Filion
10. Kyle Major–Billy Davis, Jr.

Race 10-C$50,000 Youthful
PP-Horse-Listed Driver
1. Creighton Hanover–Billy Davis, Jr.
2. Real Infusion–Randy Waples
3. Beach Buff–Anthony MacDonald
4. Big Unit–Scott Zeron
5. DJ Lance–Doug McNair
6. Piston Broke–Sylvain Filion
7. I’m The Pied Piper–Scott Zeron
8. Aahm A Gesture–Jody Jamieson
9. Racing Rocky–Jody Jamieson
10. Tye Seelster–Jason Brewer

First race post time is 7:30 p.m.