Paragon wins series

Coming from second-over at the top of the lane, Paragon ($11.90, $7.00, $4.30) and driver Rick Zeron held the rest of the closing field at bay in 1:52.3 to win the the 20th edition of the $123,500 Cam Fella Pacing Series Saturday night at Woodbine.



The Cam Fella Series was restricted to 3- and 4 year olds. Paraon notched a half-length victory for trainer Tony Montini.



Bona Fide X Ample ($11.60, $6.70) and pilot Jack Moiseyev were sent off at odds of 16-1 in the tilt and raced well, finishing second and bottoming the $11.20 exactor.



With Luc Ouellette in tow, 15-1 shot Woolloomooloo ($9.60) closed well and was three-quarters of a length back of Paragon in third, rounding out the healthy $1,237.60 triactor.



Blue Burner (Mark MacDonald) and Landscapist (Mike Saftic), who were both looking for a sweep of the series and were the focus of the wagering public, finished sixth and seventh, respectively.



The pair battled up front during the first three quarters of the mile, which allowed Zeron and Paragon to pick up the pieces when it mattered.



"I was kind of figuring that Mike and Mark were probably going to get at it a little bit to see which one would was going to set up the fractions and be on the front-end to get the best advantage," Zeron said in the paddock afterwards, during an interview with Woodbine Entertainment's Jeff Bratt. "That's how the speed got going a little bit for me. I was lucky enough to grab a helmet which dragged me to the head of the lane and my horse took it from there."



Saftic and Landscapist cut the opening quarter in :27.2 before MacDonald and Blue Burner went first-up from third. After sparring shortly, Saftic allowed MacDonald to take control of the front and reach the half-mile pole in :55.2.



Zeron and Paragon were fifth at the half and picked up second-over cover when Cheyenne Hollywood and driver Randy Waples made a first-over move from fourth.



Blue Burner stopped the three-quarters of a mile clock in 1:23.3, and that was when the rest of the backfield came calling.



A thrilling stretch drive ensued, and when it was all said and done, Zeron and his mount were very wide at the wire and better than their nine other foes.



The mile lowered Paragon's career mark by a full second.



"I think my horse is as good as any in there," Montini said, "and it was all a matter of trip – my horse just tripped out and the other ones got used pretty good."



Montini co-owns Paragon with fellow Ontario residents Basil Michelle, Adelio Cicchetti and Paul Giammichele. (Woodbine press release)

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