by Greg Blanchard, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — The ageless Abbey Road C turned in another flawless effort for driver Keith Jones in winning Monday night’s (April 7) C$45,000 Open Trot at Woodbine Racetrack and, in the process, equaled his lifetime record of 1:52.4.

The 9-year-old gelding followed the pacesetting Starsel through fractions of :26.2, :56.1 and 1:25.1, before sailing past that rival in the stretch and widening out to a three length victory. He used a :27.3 final quarter to turn back Surfing Angus and Snazzy Hot Rod.

The victory was the 55th lifetime for Abbey Road C, who is trained by Jones for owner Margaret Charlton of Sarnia, Ontario. The win boosted his career bankroll to more than C$1.8 million.

Only Lonely, Sophisticat win in Celias Counsel opener

Only Lonely and Sophisticat both used similar front-end tactics to deliver victories in Monday’s opening leg of the Celias Counsel Trotting Series for 3-year-old fillies.

In the opening C$18,000 split, Luc Ouellette fired Only Lonely straight to the top from post five in the shortened field and never looked back through splits of :28.3, 1:00.2 and 1:30.2. The daughter of Yankee Paco-Too Good For You powered away from rivals with a :28.1 final stanza to score over Daylon Mistress and Whatever Lolawants in 1:58.3.

The Chris Beaver trainee was making her first start of the campaign after winning two of 10 starts last season as a freshman. The filly is owned by Tom Crouch of Lexington, Kentucky.

Sophisticat, driven by Anthony MacDonald, also took charge early in the second division from post six and put up fractions of :28.4, 1:00 and 1:30.2, before kicking in with a :28.2 last quarter to emerge victorious over Keystone Bride and Fa Mulan in 1:58.4.

Trained by James MacDonald, the daughter of Earl-Summer Guest was notching her first win of the season in three outings for brother Anthony, who co-owns with Frank Cirillo of Mississauga, Ontario.

The second leg of the Celias Counsel Series goes next Monday night (April 14) at Woodbine.