by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

Toronto, ON — Card Dealer dealt a winning hand tonight at Woodbine, going wire-to-wire in the rain to capture the first of two C$35,000 splits of the Cam Fella Pacing Series opening leg, for 3- and 4-year-olds.

WEG photo

Beach Boy Toy collared Real Celebration in deep stretch to win the second Cam Fella division in 1:54.3.

Jody Jamieson sent Card Dealer out to take command off the gate, with favorite My Masterpiece and Mike Saftic tucking into the pocket spot.

Through fractions of :27.0, :56.3, and 1:25.3 that order didn’t change, but as the field swung into the stretch, My Masterpiece swung into action, challenging Card Dealer on the outside. He got as far as Card Dealer’s saddlepad, but Jamieson wouldn’t let him clear, sending his colt onward to win by a length in 1:53.1.

My Masterpiece hung on for second, with 24-1 shot, Livefreeordiehard (Sylvain Filion), stepping up for third.

It was the second consecutive victory for Card Dealer, a 4-year-old gelded son of Camluck, and his third in eight tries in 2009. He is trained and co-owned by Don Lindsey of Fergus, Ontario.

In the second Cam Fella split, Rick Zeron and 4-5 favorite, Beach Boy Toy, captured the lead, relinquished it to American invader, Real Celebration (Mark MacDonald), then battled back and collared Real Celebration in deep stretch for the win in 1:54.3.

Cigar Hall (Randy Waples), another newcomer to the Woodbine oval, took the show spot.

A son of Artiscape, Beach Boy Toy can now boast three wins in seven tries this season for trainer Jim Ainsworth, who co-owns with Bill Boden of Vancouver.

The second leg of the Cam Fella Pacing Series is slated for next Saturday, March 14 at Woodbine.