Brooklyns Best, Yellow Diamond win Woodbine splits

Daughters of Western Terror dominated in their respective $20,000(C) divisions of the Ontario-Sired Spring Series on Monday evening, as Woodbine Racetrack played host to the first leg of the three-week series for three-year-old pacing fillies.

All eyes were on the Astreos filly Warrawee Koine in the opening split, but Brooklyns Best stole away her thunder thanks to an eye-catching score in 1:53.3 for driver Mark MacDonald and trainer Tracy Brainard.

Warrawee Koine, the 4-5 favorite, marched to the lead and put down panels of :27.2 and :57.4 before being overtaken by a backstretch-brushing Brooklyns Best, who quickly took command after getting away fourth in the early stages of the mile. MacDonald the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3 before finishing them off with a :28 final frame.

It was two lengths back to runner-up Warrawee Koine, who tasted defeat for the first time in five starts. OK Bravo fired home in :27.4 to pick up third prize in the eight-filly affair.

"There’s a very significant headwind right now so I decided to move up the backstretch when the wind was at my back," said driver Mark MacDonald. "That’s a good filly I had; she hasn’t raced much but she’s a really good filly. As soon as that other one (Warrawee Koine) came off my back my filly just dug in, and into that wind it was a really nice last quarter."

Bulletproof Enterprises of Boca Raton, Fla., owns Brooklyns Best, who has put together a 1-1-0 record in her first two lifetime starts. The victory bumped her earnings to $12,750.

Bulletproof Enterprises and Mark MacDonald returned to the winner’s circle in the second division following a thoroughly impressive performance with Yellow Diamond who hangs her harness bag in the barn of trainer Casie Coleman.

MacDonald wrestled his charge into an early five hole while My Red High Heels and the parked-out Euphoria Seelster slugged it out to the quarter pole in :26.2. Euphoria Seelster eventually cleared to the top, but she was immediately overtaken by Red High Heels. That filly was then pulled on by Brittle Truth, who cleared to the lead right at the midway point in :55.2.

Yellow Diamond started a move to the outside when the field entered the backstretch, and she rushed to command shortly past the half-mile marker. Once in charge, the 1-5 choice blazed past the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4 before pacing the final frame in :28.1 while under wraps.

She stopped the teletimer in 1:52.

It was more than three lengths back to runner-up Mach Me Not. My Red High Heels held on to finish third.

It was the second lifetime victory in just four starts for Yellow Diamond, who was unraced as a rookie. The winner of this year’s $76,000 Tender Loving Care Series at the Meadowlands has banked $50,500 to date.

The second leg of the Ontario-Sired Spring Series will be contested next Monday evening at Mohawk Racetrack, and the $50,000(C) (est.) final goes Monday, May 11. (WEG)

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