by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Lady Ping and Domedomedome were popular winners in Monday night’s (Jan. 11) first leg of the Lifetime Dream Series at Woodbine Racetrack. A group of 12 4- and 5-year-old trotting mares were split into two $14,000 first leg divisions.

In the first split, Lady Ping converted off a second-over trip for a 1:58.3 victory. Trained and driven by Dagfin Henriksen, Lady Ping got away in fifth, while Piscean cut out opening fractions of :29.2 and 1:00. Sheguindah came first-up to challenge the leader, which allowed Lady Ping to pick up cover.

In the stretch, Lady Ping, the 3-5 favorite, came off cover and trotted by her rivals with ease to score a 3-3/4 length victory with a :29.2 final quarter. Luau Hanover got up for second, while Sheguindah was third. Piscean dropped back to finish fifth.

A 4-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass, Lady Ping is owned by Dr. Brett Anderson, Henriksen and Kyle Anderson. The trotting mare won four of 24 starts in 2015 and banked $86,163. Lady Ping now has five career victories and a bankroll of $95,222. She paid $3.50 to win.

Domedomedome kept things rolling for the favorites in the second division, as the Jack Moiseyev trainee won easily at 4-5. Driven by Phil Hudon, Domedomedome made a second-quarter move to the lead from fourth to post a half-mile clocking of :58.3. After reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3, the public’s choice stretched her lead out to as many as seven lengths before stopping the clocking in 1:57.4 for a 4-1/4 length victory. Aspen California rallied nicely to finish second, while Tymal Fireitup finished third.

A 5-year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe, Domedomedome is owned by Joanne Colville and Pamela Schmidt. The Moiseyev trainee won seven of 31 starts in 2015 for $71,388 in earnings. Domedomedome, who was making her second start of 2016, now has eight career wins and a bankroll of $87,333. A $2 win ticket on the favorite returned $3.80.

In order to be eligible to the Lifetime Dream, the trotting mares had to be non-winners of C$100,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2015.

The second leg of the Lifetime Dream Series is scheduled for next Monday (Jan. 18).