Three-year-olds battle in Spring Series

The Ontario-sired Spring Series kicked off at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday (Apr. 11) with three divisions of sophomore harness racing fillies doing battle over a sloppy track.

Right Match (Sportswriter, Sylvain Filion) was the faster winner of the two pacing splits. The filly popped the pocket on pacesetter Always A Catch (Louis-Philippe Roy), went to the front in mid-stretch, and held off Think Ahead (Trevor Henry) by a half-length to win in 1:53. Think Ahead was second-best. Always A Catch held third, three-and-three-quarter lengths back of the top two.

RIGHT MATCH REPLAY

Right Match, taking her second lifetime win, lowered her mark and increased her career earnings to $32,051 in eight starts. The filly, trained by Bob McIntosh, took her sole victory at two in the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots. Breeder Robert McIntosh Stables of Windsor co-owns her with Dr. David Fisher and Ian Fisher.

Lightning Lizzie (Betterthancheddar, Filion) routed the other group of pacers as she went wire-to-wire with a stretch burst that carried her five-and-a-quarter lengths clear in the 1:53.3 victory. Catch My Breath (James MacDonald) was second the whole was and had two lengths in hand on show finisher Le Bec Fin (Bob McClure).

LIGHTNING LIZZIE REPLAY

The winner is undefeated in two outings since debuting on Mar. 22 for trainer Murray Brethour. He co-owns the filly, now with earnings of $17,500, with Glen Tarver, Bruce Northover, and Jason Churchill.

Lexus Angel (Archangel, Henry) claimed her third victory from five starts as she won the sole trotting division. Her backstretch brush gave her control before the half, and she cruised two-and-a-quarter lengths clear down the lane for a 1:57.1 score. All Out Marilyn (Roy) was all-out to hold off Enchanted Angel (Bob McClure) for place.

LEXUS ANGEL REPLAY

Trained by Shannon Henry, Lexus Angel has earned $31,860 since her debut on Feb. 29. Trevor Henry Stables co-owns her with Norm Dunstan.

The Ontario-sired Spring Series for fillies continues with leg two on Apr. 18, followed by a $40,000A final on Apr. 27.

The males will compete in their first leg on the next card at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Friday, Apr. 12. That card will also see the opener of the Canadian-sired Graduate Series. First post is set for 7:10 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink