by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

Campbellville, ON — It was a very good night at the office for the WEG circuit’s leading driver, Jody Jamieson, who captured both eliminations for next week’s SBOA Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

WEG photo

Novelty AS delivered a win in 1:56.3 in the first of the two eliminations, a new lifetime mark.

In the first of the two C$25,000 eliminations, for trotting lasses, 17-1 shot Novelty AS grabbed the early lead for Jody Jamieson, gave way to Randy Waples and Mets Inn at the 3/8 marker, found herself without racing room in the pocket spot as the field entered the stretch, but wiggled through on the inside in the final strides to overcome the late-charging Magic Sassy (Rick Zeron), Cuddler (Mario Baillargeon), and favourite Ill Wait For You (Trevor Ritchie).

She delivered the win in 1:56.3, a new lifetime mark. Magic Sassy was half a length behind in second, and Cuddler and Ill Wait For You dead-heated for third.

Novelty AS, a daughter of Striking Sahbra out of the Mack Lobell, Noblesse AS, is owned by ACL Stuteri Ab of Paris, Kentucky, and trained by Anette Lorentzon. This was her first victory of the 2009 season and her second, lifetime, in a total of 12 starts.

“I was surprised the pace was so slow,” commented Jamieson.

“There wasn’t much room on the inside. I just prayed for a miracle and we fired right through that spot.

“They made some changes to her equipment and it made a 100% difference to her tonight.”

The focus switched to pacing lasses in the second C$25,000 SBOA elimination, and Jamieson again pulled out the stops to deliver a victory for his father, trainer Carl Jamieson, with Windsong Filou, in 1:52.3.

Positioning his filly comfortably in third through the early fractions, Jamieson let Keith Oliver and Coming Late take command, with Cheap Motel and Luc Ouellette pocket-sitting. Cheap Motel went on the attack and cleared at the 3/8 pole, but Jamieson waited till the top of the lane to angle Windsong Filou out to challenge on the outside. A game Cheap Motel battled back, but gave way in the final strides to allow the hard-driving Windsong Filou the victory. Coming Late gave a late surge to get second by half-length, and Cheap Motel settled for third.

Carl Jamieson trains and co-owns Windsong Filou with Dr. Michael Wilson, Thomas Kyron, and the Lobro Stables of London, Ontario. The Astreos filly can now boast three victories in 12 starts this season.

“Filou drew good for once. When I came, I just came as hard as I could and she held on,” said Jamieson. “She was sharp tonight.

She’s got gate speed; sitting up close and one run is probably her best trip.”

The top eight finishers from each of tonight’s eliminations will join two fillies who have been given a bye for next Friday’s C$201,000 and C$180,000 (est.) SBOA Stakes finals at Mohawk.