by Jeff Renton, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — Tony Aarts-owned horses trained by Ben Wallace made a statement in the C$17,000 second leg of the Miss Vera Bars Series, as they swept their respective divisions on Thursday night at Woodbine.

Artachebythenumber and Soutine Hanover employed different racing styles, but both impressed as they duked it out with their fellow three-year-old filly pacers.

At the head of the stretch it looked like What A Fantasy and driver Chris Christoforou had the opening division in the bag, but Artachebythenumber and reinsman Steve Condren had other ideas.

WEG photo

Soutine Hanover outdueled Shesaporsche in the second division of the Miss Vera Bars Series.

Closing the deficit with every stride, Artachebythenumber reeled-in the pacesetter, stopping the clock in 1:58¹.

With Electra Dreamer (Phil Hudon) parking-out Storm Girl (Trevor Ritchie) through the :29¹ and :59² opening fractions, Christoforou sent What A Fantasy three-wide into the final turn. Clear and barreling home, What A Fantasy passed the three-quarter pole in 1:28⁴. Out wide and closing hard, Artachebythenumber got up to beat What A Fantasy by one length.

Fresh off of two qualifying stints, Artachebythenumber (who is owned by Wallace along with Aarts, James Millier and Steven Barclay — all of Ontario) picked up her first score in as many attempts this year.

For her third career victory, the daughter of Artiscape–Blue Eyes Cryin returned $8.40, $3.10, $2.70 across the board and combined with What A Fantasy ($2.20, $2.10) for a $20.60 exactor. After slicing the opening half, Electra Dreamer ($4.50) hung on for third (nine and a half lengths back) and completed the $110.40 triactor.

An eye-catching stretch battle highlighted the evening’s second division, as Soutine Hanover and driver Paul MacDonell out-dueled Condren and the even-money favorite Shesaporsche.

The game gate-to-wire effort was timed in 1:56². Soutine Hanover looked tough in the mile, as she was unwilling to relent whenever she was pressured.

The fractions were :28², :58 and 1:26³ before the daughter of Rustler Hanover–Southbrook Matty came home in a :29⁴ final frame.

Pulling out three-wide from fifth in the final turn, Shesaporsche looked like a freight train as she quickly moved into contention. However, the Joe Stutzman student didn’t look the same in the stretch, as she was unable to stop the clock. The winning margin was a short neck. Fits Of Laughter and driver Luc Ouellette were third.

It was the second win in three starts this year for the bay filly, who is owned by Aarts along with Mervin Smith. Soutine Hanover has now earned $14,420 on the year and $34,162 in her career.

Sent postward at odds of 9-1, Soutine Hanover returned $20.70, $7.40 and $3.80 for the victory. Shesaporsche ($3.20, $2.20) bottomed-out the $69.30 exactor, while Fits Of Laughter ($2.50) finished the $140.40 triactor.

The C$42,000 (estimated) final is set for Thursday, January 29.

Friday evening’s card of racing will be highlighted by a pair of C$16,000 opening leg divisions of the Snowshoe Series for three and four-year-old pacers. The first division is race two (8:00 p.m.), while the second division is race four (8:40 p.m.). First race post time is 7:40 p.m.