by Mark McKelvie, WEG Communications

Toronto, ON — Second round action of the Autumn Series highlighted Monday night’s (Nov. 9) card at Woodbine Racetrack. The 2-year-old fillies competed in three $12,000 divisions Monday, with two for the pacers and a single division for the trotters.

In the first pacing division, Lay Lady Lay scored her second consecutive victory to put herself in position for a series sweep.

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Lay Lady Lay was a 1:53.3 winner in Autumn Series action on Monday.

The Chris Matthews trainee was sent off as the heavy 3-5 favorite and got away in fourth for driver Chris Christoforou. Active Lady, the second choice at 7-2, circled from second to first heading to the half to take command from Lady Marina. Around the final turn, Lay Lady Lay came first up to challenge the leader and was just a length from the front at the three-quarter pole in 1:26.

In the stretch, Lay Lady Lay surged by Active Lady and charged home with a :27.2 last quarter to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.3. Lady Marina, who got a two-hole trip, got off the rail and up for second, while Active Lady was third.

A daughter of Up The Credit-Lady D M, Lay Lady Lay has won three of her last four starts and has earned $20,130 in six career starts for owners 1posse2steves3brothersstb. The Matthews trainee lowered her career mark Monday night by three-fifths of a second. Lay Lady Lay paid $2.90 to win.

In the second split, Noone To Depend On, a leg one winner, was sent off as the heavy 1-5 favorite, but had to settle for third.

Top Royal and driver Phil Hudon took the second division in gate-to-wire fashion. The Heather Toll trainee was sent off at 5-1 and put on the front by Hudon, while Noone To Depend on sat right behind in second.

After fractions of :27, :57 and 1:26.1, Top Royal was able to outsprint her rivals to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.1. Startled, who was sixth turning for home, shot up the rail to finish second just ahead of Noone To Depend On.

A daughter of Royal Mattjesty-Top Of The World, Top Royal has now won five of 14 starts this season and earned $21,784. She is owned by Brydown Farms Inc. and Toll. Top Royal paid $12.90 to win.

Tymal Tempest was on her best behavior Monday and took the lone trotting division in 1:58.3.

Driven by Hudon, Tymal Tempest was fired up early and sent directly to the front to post an opening quarter of :28. Haileysgonedancing, the 4-5 favorite, got away second and sat in the two-hole for the majority of the mile behind the leader. Hudon was able to rate Tymal Tempest through the middle half, posting panels of :58.3 and 1:28.4.

In the stretch, Tymal Tempest continued to trot strong on the lead, while Haileysgonedancing came to the outside to try and track down the leader. At the wire, Tymal Tempest held off Haileysgonedancing to win by a half-length, while Liberty Lane was third.

A daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe-Balance Bar, Tymal Tempest made a break in last week’s first leg after making a break in the Breeders Crown final on Oct. 24. The back-to-back miscues forced trainer Ervin Abdulov to qualify the trotting filly last Thursday.

Tymal Tempest has now won two of 13 starts and banked $30,695 for owner Tymal Farms. The clocking of 1:58.3 established a new career mark for the trotting filly. Tymal Tempest paid $8.60 to win.

In order to be eligible to the Autumn Series, the Ontario sired 2-year-olds had to be non-winners of C$30,000 lifetime as of Sept. 30, 2015. The Autumn Series finals for the fillies will take place next Monday (Nov. 16). The pacing final will go for a purse of C$31,800, while the trotting final will go for C$29,400.

Autumn Series action continues Thursday with round two for the 2-year-old colts and geldings.