by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

Toronto, ON — Rip Rockin Lady came from way off the pace to win by a neck in the first of two C$20,000 divisions of the Damsel Pacing Series opener on Thursday night (March 12) at Woodbine.

With favorite The Three Of Us scratched due to lameness, the field was wide open for the first Damsel split. B M Mcw and Sylvain Filion took advantage to shoot to the early lead from post position seven and stepped through a first quarter in :27.4 with longshot P H Dreamer and Randy Waples pocket-sitting. By the half-mile marker, however, Jack Moiseyev had Onehotvett on the move to overtake, and B M Mcw had dropped to third with P H Dreamer hanging on to her pocket spot.

The field was three-wide by the time they hit the top of the stretch, with Rip Rockin Lady set into motion by Luc Ouellette from the backfield, along with stablemate Park Avenue (Tyler Buter). Onehotvett folded under the onslaught as P H Dreamer found her second wind on the inside while Rip Rockin Lady stormed up on the outside. At the wire, it was Rip Rockin Lady in 1:54.1, with P H Dreamer second and B M Mcw rebounding for third.

It was a stellar beginning to the 2009 season for Rip Rockin Lady, who won the Niagara Series at Woodbine in December before being shut down for three months. The daughter of Keystone Raider is trained by Todd Buter for owner/breeders William and Carol Fuhs, James Marion, and Lynette Buter.

New Image Media photo

Designated Leader was a 1:54 winner in her Damsel Series division.

Designated Leader cruised to victory in the second of the two Damsel divisions with a perfect pocket trip. The daughter of No Pan Intended, with Randy Waples in the bike, went to the early lead but allowed a bullish Windsong Experanza (Jody Jamieson) to overtake just past a brisk :27 first quarter. Designated Leader then chased Windsong Experanza through the far turn, with Creme Fraiche and Mark MacDonald challenging on the outside but unable to clear.

In the stretch, Jamieson asked for more from Windsong Experanza but the mare was all out, while Designated Leader used her pocket position to deliver in the final strides, winning in 1:54. Michelle’s Idea (Rick Zeron) came from well off the pace to seize second, with Gottogetoutmore (Tyler Buter) third.

The 4-year-old Designated Leader is trained by Murray Brethour for owner/breeder Bill Manes and partners Robert Little, William Cripps and Paul Sabourin. This was her second win in eight tries this season.

The Damsel Pacing Series continues with second round action on Thursday, March 19.