TORONTO, January 11 – Lady Ping and Domedomedome were popular harness racing winners in Monday night's first leg of the Lifetime Dream Series at Woodbine Racetrack.
A group of 12 four and five-year-old trotting mares were split into two $20,000 first leg divisions.
In the first split, Lady Ping converted off a second-over trip for a 1:58.3 victory.
Trained and driven by Dagfin Henriksen, Lady Ping got away in fifth, while Piscean cut out opening fractions of :29.2 and 1:00. Sheguindah came first-up to challenge the leader, which allowed Lady Ping to pick up cover.
In the stretch, Lady Ping, the 3/5 favourite, came off cover and trotted by her rivals with ease to score a 3¾ length victory with a :29.2 final-quarter. Luau Hanover got up for second, while Sheguindah was third. Piscean dropped back to finish fifth.
A four-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass, Lady Ping is owned by Dr. Brett Anderson, Henriksen and Kyle Anderson. The trotting mare won four of 24 starts in 2015 and banked over $109,000.
Lady Ping now has five career victories and a bankroll of $121,700. She paid $3.50 to win.
Lady Ping
Domedomedome kept things rolling for the favourites in the second division, as the Jack Moiseyev trainee won easily at 4/5.
Driven by Phil Hudon, Domedomedome made a second-quarter move to the lead from fourth to post a half-mile clocking of :58.3. After reaching the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3, the public's choice stretched her lead out to as many as seven-lengths before stopping the clocking in 1:57.4 for a 4¼ length victory.
Aspen California rallied nicely to finish second, while Tymal Fireitup finished third.
A five-year-old daughter of Deweycheatumnhowe, Domedomedome is owned by Joanne Colville and Pamela Schmidt. The Moiseyev trainee won seven of 31 starts in 2015 for over $90,000 in earnings.
Domedomedome, who was making her second start of 2016, now has eight career wins and a bankroll exceeding $110,000. A $2 win ticket on the favourite returned $3.80.
Domedomedome
In order to be eligible to the Lifetime Dream, the trotting mares had to be non-winners of $100,000 lifetime as of October 31, 2015.
The second leg of the Lifetime Dream Series is schedule for next Monday (January 18).
Mark McKelvie – WEG Communications