by Greg Blanchard, WEG Media

Toronto, ON — Rip Rockin Lady needed every inch of the long Woodbine stretch to haul down favorite Windsong Experanza in Monday’s (Dec. 29) C$44,200 Niagara Pacing Series Final for 3-year-old fillies over a track rated ‘good’ and off one second.

The eight fillies who lined up behind the starting gate were also facing the elements which included dropping temperatures, light snow and heavy winds that gusted at times close to 60 kph.

New Image Media photo

Rip Rockin Lady was a neck winner over Windsong Experanza in the Niagara Series final.

As the field left the gate, Windsong Experanza left sharply from post two and established command from the outside with the winner’s stablemate, Gottogetoutmore, landing in the pocket in front of double-leg winner Signal. Rip Rockin Lady, driven by Ty Buter, was able to get situated in fourth and watched the leader put up the opening fractions of :29.3 and :58.2.

At that point, Signal made a move to the outside from third and Rip Rockin Lady followed suit, receiving a perfect tow second-over past the third marker in 1:26.3.

As the field turned for home, Windsong Experanza was able to put away the challenge of Signal but could not quite hold off Rip Rockin Lady who made one final surge to score by just a neck in 1:56.2. Windsong Experanza did hold on for second with Paper Cut rounding out the top three. The winner returned $6.90 for the victory.

It was the eighth win in 19 starts this year for the daugther of Keystone Raider-Armbro Ripley who is trained by Todd Buter for owners William and Carol Fuhs, James Marion and Lynette Buter. The lion’s share of the purse boosted her career earnings to $75,093.