Ruff Me Up pushes streak to six in WEGZ win

February 05, 2012

In the opening round of the WEGZ Pacing Series, the grey gelding, Ruff Me Up, extended his win streak to six after capturing his $20,000 division, which was the first of three on Saturday night at Woodbine.

The Joseph Cirasuola trainee used a :27 final quarter to find the winner�s circle in the opening dash.

The eight-year-old son of Real Artist-April Ruffles, who was parked out into the first turn, took the lead past a :26.3 opening panel, which was set by Draconian (Jody Jamieson).

With driver Keith Oliver in the bike, Ruff Me Up held command. The duo hit the half in :55.3 then the three-quarters in 1:25.2, before opening up a two length lead to get under the wire in 1:52.2. Draconian finished second with Rays San (Sylvain Filion) rounding out the triactor.

�There is nothing better than a win,� said Cirasuola with a big smile. �They don�t come too often.

�It�s a Cinderella story,� he added. �We bought him real cheap and he is getting extremely good at the right time.�

Cirasuola says the gelding had issues with his front legs when he got him. He feels that as long as Ruff Me Up stays sound, he will be one of the top contenders in the series.

The 20-time career winner, who is four-for-four in 2012, increased his bankroll to $212,166 for owner Shirley Halas of Northville, Michigan.

Ruff Me Up paid $6.90 to win as the third choice.

Following a six month layoff, Anderlecht delivered as the post time favourite in the second division of the WEGZ Series.

The Igor Vrablic pupil, who dropped into the pocket after following a first-up Dark Prince (Anthony MacDonald) past the half, sat behind fractions of :26.3, :55.1 and 1:23.1.

In the stretch, driver Randy Waples angled the seven-year-old pacer from the rail to take the lead. The pair stopped the teletimer in 1:52, one length ahead of Rock On Precious (Billy Davis Jr.). Lucky Terror (Jody Jamieson) finished third.

The son of Cams Card Shark-Princess Chablis notched his 22nd lifetime victory and first of the season. He has banked $627,305 to date for owners Black Road Stable of Cambridge and Point Zero Seven Racing of Burlington.

Anderlecht returned $3.70 to win.

In the fastest division, Bay Of Sharks romped to a five and a quarter length score in 1:50.4 for trainer Colin Johnson.

Facebook (Doug McNair) clocked the first quarter in :26.1 before a parked Gunpowder (Anthony MacDonald) tried to challenge the tempo-setter, but was unsuccessful past the half in :54.2. Driver Jody Jamieson then took the 1-5 favourite, Bay Of Sharks, three-wide and was able to clear in the final turn.

As the six-year-old paced by the three-quarter marker in 1:22.4, he began to open up on the field, which secured the triumph. Warners Speedy Art (Scott Zeron) got up for second and Mach Wheel (Joe Hudon) finished third.

The son of Cams Card Shark-Whitley Bay scored his third win in four starts this year for owner Michael Sergi of Canton, New York. The 14-time career winner has stashed away $351,007 in his career.

Bay Of Sharks paid $2.40 to win.

The series is for pacers who are four-year-olds and older in 2012 that are non-winners of $50,000 (three-year-olds $75,000) in 2011. Pacers must also have a minimum of 10 starts in 2011.

The $30,000 second leg of the WEGZ Series is scheduled for Saturday, February 11, with the $50,000 final set for Saturday, February 18. (WEG)

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