by Greg Blanchard

Toronto, ON — Cats Meow used off-the-pace tactics while Yankeelicious wired the field in respective C$35,000 divisions in the opening leg of the Damsel Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares on Thursday night (March 11) at Woodbine Racetrack.

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Cats Meow rallied from fifth to first in the first split for driver Randy Waples to stop the clock in 1:53.

Cats Meow rallied from fifth to first in the first split for driver Randy Waples to stop the clock in 1:53, the fastest of the two divisions. The 4-year-old daughter of Goliath Bayama-Cataclysm held off a hard-charging Village Java with Notable Beauty landing the show spot.

It was the first win of the season for the Dr. John Hayes trainee who is owned by Alan Kirschenbaum of Burbank, California. She returned $5.40 as the second choice in the wagering.

In the second contest, Yankeelicious went coast to coast for driver Jody Jamieson in 1:54. The 4-year-old daughter of Yankee Cruiser-Silver Romance, who was sent off as the slight second choice, needed a :27.3 final quarter to hold off favorite Smashbox while Keepers Destiny garnered the third spot.

Yankeelicious has now won two of eight this season for trainer Shawn Robinson and owners Ian Fromowitz of Ontario and Gerrie Tucker of Quebec

The second leg of the Damsel Pacing Series will go next Thursday night (March 18) at Woodbine.