by Karen Briggs, WEG media

Toronto, ON — The forecast is for a blizzard on Thursday (Dec. 31) at Woodbine — two blizzards, in fact — as two C$20,000 divisions of the Blizzard Pacing Series for 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares go postward in races four and six.

Among them is a filly who hasn’t quite reached her official third birthday; that will happen on Friday, New Year’s Day. But Kim’s Quest, a daughter of Royal Mattjesty, seems destined for bigger things as she approaches that milestone, and the first leg of the Blizzard might be an opportune time to begin.

New Image Media photo

Kim’s Quest will be seeking her second lifetime in Thursday’s Blizzard Series.

Though she has only one win to her credit thus far in eight starts, Kim’s Quest has demonstrated ability, and now is building on the consistency aspect of her resume. In her last two starts — the second leg and the final of the Ontario Sired Autumn Series at Woodbine — Kim’s Quest has narrowly missed visiting the winner’s circle, showing a stalking style and good late speed for trainer Michael Grant and linesman Luc Ouellette.

Having bounced back from the sick list, which kept her out of action through October and most of November, the filly’s recent form has earned her 5-2 favorite status in the first of the two Blizzard splits. She’ll leave from post four.

In the second division, watch for Jeff Gillis trainee Slimsplace, a daughter of Artsplace-She’s Beachy who is also approaching her third birthday. A Breeders Crown contender in October (she was scratched sick from the final after placing fourth in her elimination), Slimsplace has also had some time off, but won her returning qualifier at Mohawk on December 10 and then proceeded to pace home almost three lengths to the good in a C$19,000 conditioned event the following week.

She is listed at 8-5 in the morning line despite drawing post position seven in a field of nine; Randy Waples has been tapped to drive.

The second leg of the Blizzard Pacing Series will go on Thursday, January 7, with the final the following week.