Woodbine: Perfect Alliance sets world record
The Woodbine winter/spring meet came to an end on Monday evening, but not before the Toronto oval hosted the Miss Versatility Series for the continents top older trotting mares.
Perfect Alliance, driven by Yannick Gingras, established a new world record for a four-year-old mare as the trotting miss got under the wire first in 1:51 2/5. In doing so, the daughter of Credit Winner also set a new Canadian and track record in the process.
Set off as the 6/5 second choice, Gingras and Perfect Alliance led from start to finish through panels of :26 3/5 :55 1/5 and 1:23 4/5, before using a :27 3/5 final quarter to seal the win.
Bee A Magician (Brian Sears), Canada and U.S. Horse of the Year last season, finished second as the 2/5 favorite. After going undefeated in 17 starts last season, the daughter of Kadabra tasted defeat for the first time since October 12, 2012. Ma Chere Hall (Corey Callaghan) finished third.
Owned by Little E LLC, Jason Settlemoir, David Stolz and Arthur Geiger, Perfect Alliance increased her career earnings to $180,001. She remains a perfect 10 for 10 this season.
She paid $4.70 to win.
Fresh off her world record performance at Pocono, 3/5 favorite Classic Martine and Tim Tetrick found the wire first in 1:52 2/5 to take the other division.
Tetrick guided the daughter of Classic Photo to command well before the opening station in :27 1/5.
Heading towards the half, second-choice Charmed Life (Jody Jamieson) brushed to the front to lead past the mid-way point in :27 1/5 and three-quarters in 1:25.
Turning for home, Charmed Life began to tire as Classic Martine angled to the outside and exploded to the lead en route to a comfortable score. Rockin With Dewey came on for second over Upfrontluckycarol.
Chris Oakes trains the four-year-old old lass for his wife, Susan, along with co-owners Edwin Gold, Hauser Bros Racing Entertainment LLC and Conrad Zurich.
Classic Martine remains a perfect three-for-three this season and has banked $571,224 in career earnings.
She paid $3.20 to win.
(edited release-WEG)