by Greg Gangle – WEG Media

Toronto, ON — Driver Jody Jamieson made his presence felt tonight at Woodbine Racetrack capturing both C$30,000 eliminations of the Willowdale Stakes eliminations for 4-year-old pacers. The top five finishers from each elimination advance to the C$100,000 final next week.

Sparky Mark went gate-to-wire in the first elimination, stopping the clock in 1:52.3.

The son of Astreos controlled the pace past the opening quarter of :27.4, ahead of Village Beat (Phil Hudon) and Top Gear (Mario Baillargeon).

Sparky Mark would continue to lead his six rivals past the half in :56.3 and three-quarters in 1:24.1. Around the final turn, Oakmont (Simon Allard) angled to the outside and began a first-over attack with Twin B Warrior (Randy Waples) tracking him.

At the top of the stretch, Sparky Mark and Oakmont were only strides apart with Twin B Warrior just two-lengths back from the leader.

With a sixteenth of a mile remaining, Sparky Mark turned aside all challengers to score a gritty victory with Twin B Warrior finishing second and Oakmont third.

With the victory, Sparky Mark celebrated his ninth career win as his lifetime earnings climbed to $141,340 for trainer Mark Austin and owner Leo Thibodeau.

In the other elimination, Good Bad Lucky enjoyed a pocket-trip en route to scoring a 1:51.2 victory.

Jamieson guided Good Bad Lucky to the front from post five before the opening panel in :27.3. Jamieson then elected to allow Jackets Required (Randy Waples) to take over command and enjoy a two-hole trip as Jackets Required led his rivals past the middle-half in :56 and 1:23.

As the 4-year-olds turned for home, Good Bad Lucky tipped off the pylons to attack pace-setter, Jackets Required and used a :27.1 final quarter to capture the victory in the final strides. Art Professor (Mario Baillargeon), who enjoyed a three-hole trip, finished third with Aled Hanover (Scott Zeron) fourth.

Good Bad Lucky, a son of Camluck, scored his 11th career win as his lifetime earnings increased to $195,905 for trainer David Menary and owners Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi.

The C$100,000 final will line up as follows:

1) Jackets Required
2) Twin B Warrior
3) Good Bad Lucky
4) Sparky Mark
5) Malicious
6) Village Beaet
7) Art Professor
8) Here We Go Again
9) Aled Hanover
10) Oakmont