by Greg Gangle – WEG Media
Toronto, ON — In the opening leg of the C$25,000 Don Mills Trotting Series, Jessesjo extended his win streak to six after capturing his division Monday evening at Woodbine Racetrack. Four divisions took place featuring 4 and 5-year-old trotters who are non-winners of C$150,000 lifetime as of December 31, 2011.
Guided by Jody Jamieson in the third division, Jessesjo, a 5-year-old son of Jailhouse Jesse, sat comfortably off-the-pace through panels of :27 and :56.2, before making a rush to the lead before three-quarters in 1:25.3 en route to stopping the timer in 1:55.1. Bullet (Keith Oliver) finished second with Ice Machine (Randy Waples) completing the triactor.
“He was really good tonight,” Jamieson said following the win. “Obviously, I didn’t know much about him because he shipped up from The Meadows. He was pretty aggressive behind the gate, but once I got him situated he was perfect. He did it all on his own tonight.”
Trained by David Menary for owner Burke Racing Stable and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, Jessesjo notched his fourteenth career score as his lifetime earnings increased to $119,232. He paid $2.40 for the win.
After posting nine consecutive victories before finishing third in his most recent outing, Charlie Is A Joker returned to victory lane in the opening division for driver Sylvain Filion.
The 4-year-old gelding took the lead at the quarter in :29.1 and led through panels of :59.2 and 1:28.4, before scoring a hard, fought victory in a photo finish in 1:56.4. P L Daley (Chris Christoforou) used first-over tactics to finish second with Edit (Randy Waples) third after a pocket trip.
With the win, Charlie Is A Joker notched his thirteenth career score for trainer Per Henriksen and owners Tom and Elizabeth Rankin. He boasts a record of 13-1-2 from sixteen career starts. The son of Angus Hall increased his bankroll to $95,047. He paid $2.70 to win as the favorite.
Run And Tell Pap and driver Jody Jamieson converted off a pocket trip to click in the second division in 1:54.3.
The 5-year-old son of High Falls was the first leader past the opening quarter in :27.2 with E W Fisher (Rick Zeron) in the pocket.
Heading towards the half, E W Fisher moved to the outside and cleared past Run And Tell Pap past the mid-way point in 56.3.
Jamieson was not content in the two-hole and angled Run And Tell Pap to the outside before three-quarters in 1:25.3 and marched past E W Fisher en route to a one-length score. Here Comes Numbers (Randy Waples) came from off-the-pace to finish second with longshot Dukester third.
Run And Tell Pap, trained by Meg Crone, notched his twenty-first career score for owners Theresa and Jerry Silva. His lifetime earnings increased to $168,964. He paid $9.90 for the win.
In the final division, Mario Baillargeon steered Slip Into Glide to victory at odds of 5-1.
Baillargeon positioned the son of Yankee Glide second-over behind panels of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:25, before sprinting home two and a half-lengths the best in 1:55. Poof K (J Harris) also came from off the pace to finish second at odds of 50-1 with JJ Hall (Scott Zeron) third.
Trained by Ben Baillargeon, Slip Into Glide notched his seventh career victory as his earnings increased to $116,263 for owners Diane Ingham, Craig Tuner, 574238 Ontario Inc and 493807 Ontario Inc. He paid $12 for the win.
The C$35,000 second leg of the Don Mills Trotting Series is scheduled for Thursday, February 16, with the C$75,000 final set for Monday, February 27.