Damsel Series opener at Woodbine

Rip Rockin Lady came from way off the pace to win by a neck in the first of two $20,000 divisions of the Damsel Pacing series opener on Thursday night at Woodbine, while Designated Leader took the faster second split in 1:54.

With favorite The Three Of Us scratched due to lameness, the field was wide open for the first Damsel split. B M Mcw and Sylvain Filion took advantage to shoot to the early lead from post position #7, and step through a first quarter in :27.4 with longshot P H Dreamer and Randy Waples pocket-sitting. By the half-mile marker, however, Jack Moiseyev had Onehotvett on the move to overtake, and B M Mcw had dropped to third with P H Dreamer hanging on to her pocket spot.

The field was three-wide by the time they hit the top of the stretch, with Rip Rockin Lady set into motion by Luc Ouellette from the backfield, along with stablemate Park Avenue (Ty Buter). Onehotvett folded under the onslaught as P H Dreamer found her second wind on the inside while Rip Rockin Lady stormed up on the outside. At the wire, it was Rip Rockin Lady in 1:54.1, with P H Dreamer second and B M Mcw rebounding for third.

It was a stellar beginning to the 2009 season for Rip Rockin Lady, who won the Niagara Series at Woodbine in December before being shut down for three months. The daughter of daughter of Keystone Raider is trained by Todd Buter for owner/breeders William and Carol Fuhs, James Marion, and Lynette Buter, all of Michigan.

Michelles Idea (Rick Zeron) came from well off the pace to seize third.

The 4-year-old Designated Leader is trained by Murray Brethour for owner/breeder Bill Manes and partners Robert Little, William Cripps and

Paul Sabourin. This was her second win in eight tries this season.

The Damsel Pacing Series continues with second-round action on Thursday, March 19. (Woodbine)

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