by Karen Briggs, WEG Media

TORONTO, ON – Stonebridge On Ice shattered his competition tonight and made it a Snowshoe Series sweep, when he paced to a 1-1/4 length victory in the C$46,500 final in 1:52.4.

New Image Media photo

Stonebridge On Ice and driver/co-owner Mike Saftic.

Last Call Hanover and Rick Zeron were the early leaders, setting a first quarter fraction of :28.1, before being overtaken by Just the Begrining and Jody Jamieson. They enjoyed their lead for only seconds before they yielded to a determined Silver Dragon, with Luc Ouellette doing the urging.

Mike Saftic had Stonebridge On Ice sitting fifth by the half in :56.2, then moved the 4-year-old gelding to the outside lane and sent him after Silver Dragon. Through a third quarter in 1:24.2, Stonebridge On Ice wore his rival down, sweeping past him with less than an eighth of a mile to go and lots left in the tank. A fast-closing Just the Begrining couldn’t quite get up in time, but grabbed a check for second, while a hard-used Silver Dragon hung on determinedly for third.

Stonebridge On Ice, by Camluck out of the Artsplace mare, Glacier Express, is co-owned by Saftic, trainer Gregg McNair, and Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, Ontario. This was the fourth straight victory for the lightly-raced gelding.