by Ashley Mayotte, WEG communications

Toronto, ON — Twenty-three sophomore fillies put on a show Monday night (March 26) in three C$20,000 opening round divisions of the Blossom Pacing Series at Woodbine, but it was breeder St Lads Farm that stepped out into the spotlight. St Lads Penny Lane and St Lads Morgan, who were bred and raised by the Ruscom, Ont., breeder, captured the first two divisions.

At odds of 6-1, St Lads Penny Lane returned to victory lane for driver Doug McNair and trainer Otis Hall. The daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Imagine sat behind fractions of :27.1, :56.3 and 1:25.4, which were put up by Hope For Paddy (Billy Davis, Jr.). Jamie Sue (Randy Waples) advanced first-up from third in the final turn as St Lads Penny Lane caught her cover.

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St Lads Penny Lane scored in 1:54.4.

In the stretch, McNair angled St Lads Penny Lane three-wide to find clear racetrack and the pair got under the wire by a half-length in 1:54.4. Late-rallying Air Guitar Hanover (Scott Zeron) and Machleen (Chris Christoforou) got up for second and third, respectively.

“She is still very green and has a lot to learn, but I think she will keep getting better and better,” said McNair following the win. “Those were good horses she beat. I think she will be even better next week.”

With a record of 5-1-0, the pacing lass, who was unraced at two, has yet to miss the board in all six of her lifetime starts. By winning the lion’s share of the purse, St Lads Penny Lane lifted her career earnings to $53,025 for owners Nasussito Racing Inc. and Sauble Hill Farms. The bay paid $15.50 to win.

St Lads Morgan, who was the 5-2 second choice, scored from off the pace for driver-trainer Rick Zeron in the second tilt.

Even money favorite Jet Hot Stuff (Scott Zeron) put up splits of :28, :57 and 1:26.3 while St Lads Morgan launched a first-up attack from fifth in the final turn. The daughter of Mach Three-Montana Bound was able to pace on by the tempo-setter to open up a two length lead before stopping the clock in 1:56.1. Shes All Good (Anthony MacDonald) finished second and Albanian Era (Sylvain Filion) got up for third.

“She really surprised me,” said Zeron. “I knew she was a nice filly, but she stepped up her game and showed me that she is that kind of a filly.”

The win was St Lads Morgan’s first of the season in two starts and second lifetime. Owned by Percy Elkins, the 3-year-old miss increased her career earnings to $45,223. St Lads Morgan returned $7.50 to win.

Mach A Wish extended her win streak to four while clocking the fastest division in a career-best performance of 1:53.4.

Golden Era (Anthony MacDonald) was the early leader, but a parked-out Mach A Wish (Scott Zeron) brushed to the front past the :28 opening quarter. The Tony O’Sullivan trainee followed behind fractions of :56.4 and 1:25.1 cut by Stage It Right (Rick Zeron).

In the stretch, Mach A Wish took advantage of a perfect pocket trip to score the 1-1/4 length triumph. The 2-5 favorite Yagonnakissmeornot (Jody Jamieson) rallied for second and Stage It Right faded to third.

“Around the last turn I was able to find room to squeak out down the lane and she really just took off for me,” said Zeron. “I was very impressed with her and hopefully she can do the same thing next week.”

The daughter of Mach Three-Belinda Hanover, who was unraced at two, has a lifetime record of 4-0-1 in five outings with $32,733 in career earnings for O’Sullivan, who owns a piece of the bay with David Goodrow Stable. Mach A Wish paid $9.20 to win as the second choice.

The C$30,000 second leg of the Blossom, for 3-year-old pacing fillies who were non-winners of three races or C$15,000 in 2011, is slated for Thursday (April 5), with the C$50,000 final scheduled for Saturday (April 14).

Live Standardbred racing returns to the Toronto oval Thursday night (March 29) with the second leg of the Youthful Series. First race post time is 7:10 p.m.