by Mark McKelvie – WEG Communications

Campbellville, ON — Sophomore pacing fillies clashed Friday night (June 26) at Mohawk Racetrack in round one of the Town Pro Series and a direct connection to the series namesake took the first of two splits.

Imagine Dragon and driver Rick Zeron made a big third-quarter move to the front and never looked back en route to a three-length 1:51.3 victory in the first C$18,000 division.

A daughter of Dragon Again, Imagine Dragon’s dam Town Pro Miss was the eighth foal out of Town Pro, making the series namesake the grand-dam of Friday’s first division winner.

Trained by Frank Antonacci for the Lindy Farms of Conn, Imagine Dragon was making her local debut Friday evening. The sophomore pacing filly now has two wins from five starts and earnings of $26,868 in her first season of racing.

Lovely Erin finished second, while Southwind Geisha rounded out the Trifecta.

Imagine Dragon paid $15.60 to win.

Zeron, Antonacci and the Lindy Farms teamed up to win the second division in 1:52.1 with Lindys Old Lady for a sweep of the first round.

Sent off as the 8-5 second choice, Lindys Old Lady sprinted out towards the lead and would receive a two-hole trip, as Invest In Art, the 3-5 favorite, overtook the lead just after the opening-quarter.

Invest In Art was confronted by first-up challenger Nationalize around the final turn, which softened up the favorite for the stretch drive.

In the stretch, Lindys Old Lady, who had angled to the far outside, overtook the lead. The Antonacci trainee paced home strong to hold off Evas Girl, who charged up the rail, by a length.

Abbijade Hanover finished third, while Invest In Art was able to hold on for fourth.

A daughter of Rocknroll Hanover, Lindys Old Lady has now won three of five starts in her first season of racing for earnings of $24,200.

Lindys Old Lady returned $5.50 to win.

In order to be eligible to the Town Pro, the 3-year-old pacing fillies had to be non-winners of $30,000 lifetime as of March 31, 2015.

The second leg of the Town Pro will take place next Friday (July 3). Series action continues Saturday night at Mohawk with the first leg of the Summertime for 3-year-old pacing colts and geldings.