by Jeff Renton, media/communications, Woodbine Entertainment Group

Toronto, ON — Promysquous Lady will be looking to sweep away her competition in the C$48,600 final of the Blizzard Pacing Series on Thursday evening (Jan. 18) at Woodbine, and trainer Des Tackoor couldn’t be more pleased with his charge heading into the tilt.

“She’s coming into this race in perfect shape and I don’t think the retention barn is going to bother her at all,” Tackoor said about the 2006 Niagara Pacing Series winner, whom he owns along with John Levy Racing Ltd. and Aaron Waxman. “She’s a versatile horse and is very handy. She has that gate speed if Mike needs to use it, but she is better chasing down horses.”

The Blizzard Pacing Series was open to 3- and 4-year-old fillies and mares whom were non-winners of two races as of October 31, 2006. The final, which will house a full field of 10, has been carded as Thursday’s fifth race (8:56 p.m.).

“For the most part, John Levy and I hang on to our very top horses and sell the others rather quickly, but Promysquous Lady is one that we’ve waited on,” said Tackoor, who also trained the mare’s father, Pro Bono Best, winner of the 2000 Metro Pace. “She had growing pains and we had to take some time with her, but she’s always been a top filly. When training her with some colts, she showed me she was the best of the bunch. I’m hoping that after she goes through all of the conditioned ranks that she can be a good Open mare.”

Promysquous Lady (post 8, Mike Saftic, 1-1) went unraced at two, but has since compiled a record of 6-3-1 from 11 career starts, good for $53,345 in purses. Both of Promysquous Lady’s 2007 starts have come in the Blizzard preliminary rounds, each time racing as the post time favorite.

One of Promysquous Lady’s foes in the final will be the third morning line choice, Mustang Kensley (post 6, Roger Mayotte, 6-1), who is co-owned by trainer Bob Young.

The Western Hanover mare lowered her life’s mark (1:55) in her opening leg split before finishing second in her second leg division.

“(Driver Roger Mayotte) left with her in the first leg, then re-took (the lead) and went on to win — and she looked good doing it,” Young said about Mustang Kensley, who he trains for fellow Ontario residents Raymond Kwok, Stan Klemencic and William Childs. “She even put in two moves in the second leg, but just got beat.”

Even though Young is high on Mustang Kensley, he is aware that toppling Promysquous Lady is a tall order.

“I still think Des’ mare is the best in there,” said Young. “I noticed (driver Mike Saftic) sort of got locked in with her during the second leg and she was still able to get out and win. (Promysquous Lady) is a big mare, though, and is probably better when she’s able to get to the outside and get rolling on her own.”

The complete field for the Blizzard final is listed below.

Blizzard Pacing Series — C$48,600 Final
Post Position — Horse — Driver — Trainer — Morning Line Odds
1 — Windsun Rachel — P. MacDonell — M. Brethour — 15-1
2 — Northern Vitality — R. Zeron — M. Austin — 15-1
3 — Gobro Gramma G — L. MacArthur — L. MacArthur — 7-1
4 — Thief Of Hearts — Ph. Hudon — S. Pryjma — 15-1
5 — Dee Dee Blue — Ma. MacDonald — C. Hie — 9-2
6 — Mustang Kensley — R. Mayotte — R. Young — 6-1
7 — Simply Mavelous — B. Forward — S. Philbin — 15-1
8 — Promysquous Lady — M. Saftic — D. Tackoor — 1-1
9 — Aileens Luck — J. Jamieson — M. Austin — 12-1
10 — Armbro Decal — J. Moiseyev — R. Bourgeois — 20-1
AE1 — Fanciful — L. Ouellette — M. Pennington — 25-1

Note: All horses will be racing from the Retention Barn.