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

Toronto, March 3, 2005… A trio of C$18,000 second leg divisions of the General Brock Trotting Series was the highlight Thursday evening at Woodbine, and SA Speedy Balance, Harlequin and Merchant Hall all took their turns in the spotlight.

Firing home for driver Chris Christoforou in the lane, SA Speedy Balance ($8.90, $5.80, $3.80) went on to lower his life’s mark in the opening division after putting in a 1:57.3 mile.

Conditioned by Hans Petter Iversen for Moffat, Ontario’s Ely Iversen, SA Speedy Balance (Balanced Image—Wharton) topped a $138.30 exactor with Valvec ($14.50, $8.50), who was driven by Paul MacKenzie and finished three-quarters of a length back at the wire. A 23-1 shot in rein to Jim McClure, Averynattiegirl ($6.80) finished 2¾-lengths in arrears and completed the $983.80 triactor.

Valvec was first to the quarter-mile marker and lit the call up in :28.4. Piloted by Mark MacDonald, Zonk Smiger quickley went to the point after sitting fourth in the second panel and reached the half-mile indicator in :59.2. With SA Speedy Balance and Christoforou sitting third on the pylons, Zonk Smiger passed the three-quarters indicator in 1:28.1. Tipping out three-wide after the head of the lane was met, SA Speedy Balance, who was bred by Lexington, Kentucky’s Castleton Farm, cruised home for his third career victory.

Taking a full second off his mark, SA Speedy Balance, a brown horse, bumped his seasonal resume to 2-1-2 from his seventh start.

In his second career pari-mutuel start – his first since July, 1, 2004 – Harlequin ($7.90, $5.50, $4.60) and driver Jody Jamieson scored by 1¾-lengths in the second General Brock dash after tripping the timer in 1:57.3.

Finishing in a dead heat for second, Bavarian Cream ($11.30, $9.60) and Polar Winner ($4.80, $5.30) figured into the multiple exotic payouts.

As Harlequin was horse number 6 in the race, Bavarian Cream raced as the number 3 betting interest and Polar Winner wore head number 7 in the dash.

The 6-3 exactor returned $92.90 and the 6-7 exactor paid $44.20. The 6-3-7 triactor combination returned a healthier $632.60, while the 6-7-3 paid $512.40.

A son of Balanced Image out of Wellesley Doll, Harlequin cut the opening quarter-mile in :28.1 and then yielded to Bright Hope (Mike Saftic) who came calling from the three-hole. Harlequin gladly accepted the pocket ride as Bright Hope reached the next two stations in :58.2 and 1:27.4, respectively. With the flow not moving forward in the lane, Jamieson found room to pop Harlequin from the pocket and come home in a mark-lowering performance.

Both Bavarian Cream (Tom Strauss) and Polar Winner (Chris Christoforou) closed well from the backfield to be inseparable in the photo.

Conditioned by Geoff Maltby for Toronto, Ontario’s C A Burns Limited, Harlequin emerged victorious in the dash, which was the second of his career.

Merchant Hall ($13.30, $6.40, $3.30) will be looking for the series sweep in next week’s final after the gelded son of Royal Troubador took the last of the second leg divisions in 1:58.1 for driver Mike Saftic.

In rein to Mario Baillargeon, Red Radar Gun ($7.20, $3.90) diced the fractions in :28.2, :58.4 and 1:28, but couldn’t repel Merchant Hall late after he charged home off of second-over cover for the neck victory. The lone mare in the field who was driven by Paul MacDonell, Southwind Sasha ($2.30) had gone first-up and finished a quarter-length back in third.

The exactor and triactor returned $101.70 and $275.90, respectively.

Trained by Gregg McNair for Leonard, Michigan’s Daniel Keller Trust, Merchant Hall, who is out of Majolica, increased his 2005 record to 3-1-0 and $23,063 in earnings from his sixth start.

The C$54,200 (estimated) final of the General Brock is scheduled for next Thursday, March 10 at Woodbine.

February Leaders

Toronto, March 3, 2005… Below are the final statistics for the month of February at Woodbine. Driver stats are based on a minimum of 20 starts and trainer stats on a minimum of 10 starts.

Drivers – Wins Rick Zeron – 32 Mark MacDonald – 29 Chris Christoforou – 28 Mike Saftic – 27 Paul MacDonell – 21

Drivers – Money Mike Saftic – $521,386 Mark MacDonald – $505,076 Chris Christoforou – $501,995 Rick Zeron – $457,685 Luc Ouellette – $389,145

Drivers – U.D.R.S. Rick Zeron – .304 Mike Saftic – .272 Chris Christoforou – .265 Paul MacDonell – .255 Mark MacDonald – .244

Trainers – Wins Joe Stutzman – 14 Richard Moreau – 12 Kevin McMaster – 11 Gregg McNair – 10 Cal Campbell – 8

Trainers – Money Joe Stutzman – $266,790 Kevin McMaster – $205,295 Richard Moreau – $175,370 Gregg McNair – $163,400 Mark Harder – $158,370

Trainers – U.T.R.S. Bob McIntosh – .667 Jeff Gillis – .465 Mark Harder – .389 Glenn Lalonde – .383 Nat Varty – .370

Miscellaneous

Time Pacer: Rair Earth (1:51 – February 19)

Time Trotter: Honor The Cash (1:54.3 – February 13) Snazzy Millie (1:54.3 – February 27)

Money Pacer: Valley Electric ($56,250)

Money Trotter: JM Vangogh ($60,500)

Race Days: 20 Total Handle: $30,764,148 Average Handle Per Day: $1,538,207 Winning Favourites: 69 / 215 = 32.1% Favourites Finishing In-The-Money: 168 / 215 = 78.1% Total Claims: 84 Amount Spent on Claims: $2,422,000

2004 Woodbine/Mohawk Stats

Winning Favourites 154 / 450 = 34.2%

Favourites Finishing In-The-Money 357 / 450 = 79.3%

Total Claims 163

Amount Spent On Claims $4,560,750

Highest Win Payoff $122.50 – Incredible Mitch – February 17

Highest Place Payoff $68.00 – Terra Cotta Glory – January 16

Highest Show Payoff $22.80 – Dewys Place – January 17

Highest Exactor Payoff $2,269.70 – Incredible Mitch ($122.50) — BJs Predator ($17.60) – February 17

Highest Triactor Payoff $11,384.20 – Exclusives ($29.70) – Allamerican Juno ($19.00) – Kensington ($16.10) – January 16

Highest Double Payoff $1,022.80 – Lakota Hall ($91.10) – Downhill Skier ($22.30) – January 15

Highest Pick 3 $5,513.00 – Gypsys Torpedo ($10.70) – Firstline Valiant ($37.00) – Lil Miss Hanover ($18.10) – January 6

Highest Win 4 $32,963.50 – Stiliani ($21.30) – Gypsys Torpedo ($10.70) – Firstline Valiant ($37.00) – Lil Miss Hanover ($18.10) – January 6

Highest Superfecta $15,981.50 – CFO ($19.30) – Dewys Place ($21.80) – Bees N Honey ($8.20) – Royel Rookie – January 17

Highest Pick Seven $435,235.65 – Do It Now ($90.10) – Herecomesyourpan ($8.30) – Return Fire ($6.80) – JM Vangogh ($9.30) – Mr Michael ($3.50) – Smithsonian ($14.50) – Honor The Cash ($11.40) – February 13

Upcoming Events For March

Thurs. 3 General Brock Series – 1st Leg (4yo OT)

Sat. 5 Cam Fella Series – 1st Leg (3&4yo OP)

Sun. 6 Ontario Girls Series – Final (4yo MP)

Mon. 7 Ontario Boys Series – Final (4yo C&GP)

Thurs. 10 General Brock Series – 2nd Leg (4yo OT)

Fri. 11 Apaches Fame Series – 1st Leg (3yo C&GP)

Sat. 12 Cam Fella Series – 2nd Leg (3&4yo OP)

Sun. 13 Damsel Series – 1st Leg (3&4yo F&MP)

Mon. 14 Silver Reign Series – 1st Leg (3yo FP)

Fri. 18 Apaches Fame Series – 2nd Leg (3yo C&GP)

Sat. 19 Cam Fella Series – Final (3&4yo OP)

Sun. 20 Damsel Series – 2nd Leg (3&4yo F&MP)

Mon. 21 Silver Reign Series – 2nd Leg (3yo FP)

Fri. 25 Apaches Fame Series – Final (3yo C&GP)

Sat. 26 Spring Pacing Championship – 1st Leg (4yo & Older)

Sun. 27 Damsel Series – Final (3&4yo F&MP)

Mon. 28 Silver Reign Series – Final (3yo FP)

Thanks for reading! See you at the track!