Valley Electric takes second consecutive Open
February 19, 2005,by Jeff Renton, media/communications, the Woodbine Entertainment Group
Toronto, ON — Taking her second straight C$45,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace, Valley Electric ($4.20, $3.30, $2.50) and driver Mark MacDonald tripped the timer in 1:53.4 over a chilly oval on Friday evening at Woodbine. WEG Photo Valley Electric captured the Friday feature at Woodbine. Conditioned by Michael Grant for owner William Huggins, Valley Electric 
Renees Queen (Luc Ouellette) diced fractions of :27.3, :57.3 and 1:25.1, but fell victim to the rest of the field in the lane.
A 27-time winner who now has $408,477 in the bank, Valley Electric, a five-year-old Electric Yankee–Fox Valley Godiva daughter, sat fifth at the quarter and was second over at the half. Still on that helmet into the stretch, MacDonald pulled on the bay and she proceeded to show her seven rivals a strong late brush.
It was a cavalry charge home for the field of the evening’s first dash -– a C$15,000 conditioned event for fillies and mares. Six of the seven contestants fanned out across the track and Cams Bright Light ($4.80) was declared the winner for driver Mark MacDonald after the photo was processed from the 1:57.1 mile.
Racing with a C$30,000 claiming tag on him, Zorgwijk Ambasador ($13.40) was brought home first by driver Mike Saftic for trainer Darren McCall in the second race of the night -– a C$19,000 claiming handicap for trotters. An eight-year-old gelded son of Balanced Image, Zorgwijk Ambasador notched his 19th career win in 1:58 flat.
Mark MacDonald recorded his second win of the evening in the third race, a C$13,000 claiming handicap for filly and mares pacers, after he fired off of cover late with Iras Lucky Lady ($12.50) and stopped the clock in 1:55. Iras Lucky Lady, a nine-year-old Nobleland Sam daughter, has put together an impressive 2005 resume, as her seasonal record now reads 4-2-0 and $23,141 in earnings from six starts for trainer Glenn Lalonde.
D Double U was much the best for trainer/driver Rick Zeron the fourth race -– a C$15,000 conditioned trot. Quarter-poling to the point from third in the second quarter, the five-year-old Incredible Abe gelding wasn’t headed from there on out and went on to trip the timer in a new life’s mark of 1:56.2. Sent off at odds of 10-1, the Marvin Walker-owned bay returned $22.00 for the win.
Making his first start back for trainer Joe Stutzman, Blue Clear Sky ($7.70) recorded his third consecutive score in the fifth race -– a claiming event which carried a C$19,000 purse. Chris Christoforou and the five-year-old gelded son of Perfect Art tripped the timer in 1:54.2. Blue Clear Sky was then claimed by trainer Mark Ford, who picked up the C$27,000 tag.
Conditioned by Bob Atkin, Serious Comfort scored in the evening’s sixth dash, an C$18,000 conditioned pacing event. In rein to Roger Mayotte, the four-year-old Precious Bunny mare popped the pocket in late stretch and went on to win in 1:54 flat. It was the second consecutive victory for Serious Comfort, who with the effort pushed her overall bankroll to $511,360.