by Greg Gangle, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Thirty-three pacing colts and geldings lined up behind the starting gate on Monday evening (Jan. 2) at Woodbine to contest four C$20,000 Snowshoe Pacing Series divisions. Wizard Of Art, Cobalt Man, Big League and X found the winner’s circle for their connections.

New Image Media photo

Modern Legend captured the fastest Snowshoe Series division in a time of 1:54.

The series is for colts and geldings who are 3- and 4-year-olds in 2012 and were non-winners of two races or C$20,000 lifetime as of midnight, October 31, 2011.

Sent off at odds of 7-2, Wizard Of Art and Scott Zeron delivered in the first division, stopping the timer in 1:55.

The son of Art Major sat behind fractions of :28, :57 and 1:25.2, which were set by the even money favorite, Wisher (Randy Waples). Zeron positioned Wizard Of Art third-over around the final turn before taking the lead in deep stretch to score the victory by three-quarters of a length. Pictonians Matador (Billy Davis, Jr.) finished second with Pisti (Keith Oliver) rounding out the triactor.

Wizard Of Art, a three-time winner, increased his bankroll to C$29,450 for trainer Tony O’Sullivan and owner Joseph Martinelli. He paid $9.50 to win.

Zeron found the winner’s circle again in the second division as he guided the Jason Robinson-trained Cobalt Man to victory in 1:55.4.

Sent off as the even money favorite, Cobalt Man sat in the pocket behind Arthur (Jody Jamieson) through fractions of :28, :58 and 1:27.1, before tracking down the first-over attacker, Giddy Up Blackfly (Billy Davis, Jr.), in deep stretch to score the win. Giddy Up Blackfly stayed for second over Emerging Grin (Chris Christoforou) who was third.

Owned by Robert Main, Cobalt Man increased his lifetime earnings to C$70,335 as he celebrated his seventh career victory. The son of Rocknroll Hanover paid $4.10 to win.

Big League did not disappoint as the 2-5 favorite in the third division for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Tony O’Sullivan as he marched to victory in 1:55.4.

Undefeated in nine career starts, the son of Four Starzzz Shark won in gate-to-wire fashion, holding command through splits of :27.3, :58 and 1:26.4, before cruising to a 4-1/4 length victory. Piston Broke (Sylvain Filion) came from off the pace to finish second over Lucky Flier (Keith Oliver).

Owned by Let It Ride Stable, Robert Cooper Stable, Dana Parham and Jerry Silva, Big League increased his career earnings to C$43,440. He returned $2.90 to win.

After capturing the C$60,000 Autumn Stakes final in his most recent outing, Modern Legend returned to victory in the final division with pilot Jack Moiseyev in a time of 1:54.

Moiseyev guided the 4-year-old gelding to a gate-to-wire score for trainer/owner David Drew. The bay held command through fractions of :26.4, :56 and 1:25.2 before cruising to his sixth lifetime victory. Weigh The Odds (Paul MacDonell) finished second with Western Bandit (Chris Christoforou) rounding out the triactor.

Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, the son of Modern Art lifted his career earnings to C$86,085 as he paid $2.30 to win.

The C$30,000 second leg is scheduled for Thursday, January 12, with the C$50,000 final slated for Saturday, January 21.

First leg of Blizzard Series in the books

The first leg of the Blizzard Pacing Series was contested Monday evening at Woodbine with Dream Outloud, D Gs Tinkerbell and Ms Curator finding the winner’s circle in C$20,000 divisions.

The series is for fillies and mares who are 3- and 4-year-olds in 2012 and were non-winners of two races or C$20,000 lifetime as of midnight, October 31, 2011.

In the first division, Dream Outloud and Randy Waples converted off a perfect pocket trip to capture the victory at odds of 8-1.

Shine N Shimmer (Jack Moiseyev) front-stepped her way through fractions of :28, :57.3 and 1:27, before Dream Outloud was given clear racetrack and responded to score the three-quarter length victory in 1:56.2. Shine N Shimmer stayed for second over a hard-closing Bee Fullof Steinam (Jason Brewer).

The 4-year-old daughter of Bettor’s Delight increased her lifetime earnings to C$58,010 for trainer Travis Umphrey and owner Dr. Fred Kruszelnicki. The bay notched her second career victory. She paid $18.10 to win.

Even-money favorite D Gs Tinkerbell and Luc Ouellette didn’t disappoint the betting public as they cruised to victory in the second division in 1:56.2.

From the trailing post position 11, D Gs Tinkerbell sat behind the early speed of :28.2 and :58, before making a brush to the lead before three-quarters in 1:27. From there, the daughter of Cambest was under a comfortable hand-drive from Ouellette as she cruised to a 3-3/4 length victory. Artistic Music (Jack Moiseyev) finished second over a late-closing Carly Hollywood (Sylvain Filion).

Guylaine Fortin trains and co-owns the seven-time winner with Daniel Surprenant. The 4-year-old mare increased her career bankroll to C$62,161. She paid $4 to win.

At odds of 61-1, Ms Curator and driver Billy Davis, Jr. lit up the toteboard in the final division as they captured the victory in the final strides in 1:56.3.

Machleen (Randy Waples) was the early leader, but Cocoa Beach (Aaron Byron) was pulled from the pocket and taken to the front past the :27.3 opening panel. The mare held command, hitting the half in :58 and three-quarters in 1:26.3. At the top of the stretch, Cocoa Beach began to tire as the backfield was closing in. In deep stretch, five horses were across the track looking for top honors, but it was Ms Curator who found the wire first by a neck. Cards That Count (Keith Oliver) finished second over The Summer Wind (Scott Zeron) who was third.

Ian Reid trains and co-owns the 4-year-old daughter of Art Major with James Reid. The three-time winner lifted her bankroll to C$69,790.
She returned $125.90 to win.

The C$30,000 second leg is scheduled for Thursday, January 12, with the C$50,000 final slated for Saturday, January 21.