One upset in trio of Snowshoe splits at Woodbine

Two favorites prevailed while there was one upset in Friday night'strio of $16,000 divisions in the opening round of the Snowshoe Pacing Series for three and four-year-olds at Woodbine Racetrack.

Stonebridge On Ice posted his second straight win at Woodbine with a convincing 1:53.1 victory in the opening split for driver Mike Saftic. The four-year-old gelded son of Camluck-Glacier Express made a quarter-pole move to the lead and then sprinted away from rivals with a :27.2 final quarter to notch the win as the overwhelming $2.80 top choice.

The Gregg McNair trainee raced only three times last season and was a winner in his last start of 2007 for McNair, who co-owns along with driver Saftic and Leonard Gamble.

Silver Dragon posted an identical 1:53.1 clocking in winning the second split for driver Luc Ouellette. Like Stonebridge On Ice, the son of Dragon Again-Fancy Art won his final outing of 2007 and came right back with a lifetime-best performance in his split on Friday.

Kevin McMaster does the training of Silver Dragon for owner David Ratchford of North Sydney, N.S. The colt prevailed as a slight $6.00 favourite.

The final division in race six produced an upset as Last Call Hanover upended heavily favored Just The Begrining in 1:54.4. Just The Begrining finished a hard-charging second, but was subsequently placed sixth for causing interference to Ramraider in the homestretch.

Last Call Hanover, a four-year-old gelded son of Artsplace-Lilting Laughter, went winless in four starts last season, but found the winner’s circle on Friday as Zeron made a surprise move to the lead in the second quarter and the pacer was able to narrowly hold on for the win.

A bloated show pool of $68,226, with the favorite missing the board, caused a $65.20 show return on second-place finisher Paper Art.

The Snowshoe Series continues next Friday night at Woodbine. (WEG)

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