by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — Genghis Pan and Jackie Brown escaped unscathed as the 26th annual Snowshoe Series for three and four-year-old pacers got underway on Friday night at Woodbine.

Pro V One went off as the 3-5 post time favourite, but it was Genghis Pan and driver Mike Saftic who made a trip to the winner’s circle after their 1:55⁴ mile in the evening’s second C$16,000 division.

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Genghis Pan holds on at the wire to win his Snowshoe Series division.

Raider Rain (Chris Christoforou) left hard off of the gate and posted a :27⁴ opening quarter-mile. Pro V One, who was one position shy of the back of the pack, was brought out by driver Roger Mayotte and started to advance. Genghis Pan and Saftic slipped out ahead of Pro V One from the five hole and also made their way to the front.

Raider Rain recorded a :58³ half-mile, but it was Genghis Pan who was in control at the three-quarter pole, which was reached in 1:26⁴. Raider Rain was brought back out in the stretch for a re-take, but fell just a neck short. After feeling the effects of his trip, Pro V One came back on in the lane to grab third.

Genghis Pan, a homebred of the Peter Pan Stables of Pepper Pike, Ohio, has now finished on the board in all of his four starts this season (2-1-1).

Trained by Kevin McMaster, the four-year-old son of Artsplace–Mystical Maddy now has $16,626 in purse earnings this year ($23,064 in his career) after his life’s best mile.

Returning $31.40, $9.60 and $3.40 across the board prices, Genghis Pan hooked up with Raider Rain ($3.20, $2.50) for the $113.10 exactor. Pro V One ($2.10) was the final piece to the $227.70 triactor.

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Jackie Brown was in command at the wire in his Snowshoe Series division.

First-up from third along the backstretch in the first division, Jackie Brown and driver Luc Ouellette cleared to the front and never trailed, stopping the clock in 1:57¹.

The decisive move came after Rocketboy (Roger Mayotte) carved a :29¹ opening frame. From there, Jackie Brown posted fractions of :59¹ and 1:27⁴ before coming home in :29². Rocketboy had emerged from the pocket position in the lane, but couldn’t muster an attack on Jackie Brown.

Owned by his breeder Tony Debartolo of North York, Ontario, Jackie Brown pranced to his third lifetime win with the effort. The C$8,000 cheque was Jackie Brown’s first of the year after a pair of starts. His career earnings now sit at $18,356.

Jackie Brown ($6.20, $4.70, $2.80), Meal Ticket ($4.90, $2.60) and Artdandy ($2.60) helped equate the $30.50 exactor and the $50.00 triactor.

The Snowshoe Series’ C$16,000 second leg is scheduled for next Friday, January 30.

Saturday night’s card of racing at Woodbine will be highlighted by the C$48,000 Junior Free For All Pace, which is race 10 (post time 10:49 p.m.). First race post time is 7:40 p.m.

Pick 7 at nearly C$300,000!

With a carryover of C$298,705.77, Woodbine’s Saturday night program of racing looks to be enticing as the Pick 7 is back!

The third race, which goes to post at 8:22 p.m., will again kick-off the festivities, which will run through to race nine (10:28 p.m.).

In the Pick 7, bettors must correctly select the winners of races three through nine. If there are no winning tickets, 25% of the net pool is paid out to the ticket holder(s) with the most correct winners, and the balance is carried over to begin the next day’s races.

Handicappers who selected the winners of six of the seven Pick 7 races on Friday evening received C$31,622.05, but nobody created a perfect ticket.

For just $1.00 you can test your luck.

What have you got to lose?