Toronto, ON --- The General Brock Series kicked off Monday night (Feb. 2) at Woodbine Racetrack under frigid temperatures at the Toronto oval.
A group of 18 3- and 4-year-old trotters braved a windchill of -20 degrees Celsius in a pair of $14,400 divisions for the first leg of the three-week series.
In the opening division, Severus Hanover went gate-to-wire to win in 1:58.1.
Driven by Jody Jamieson, Severus Hanover trotted out to the early lead and hung up opening fractions of :29 and :59.3. Around the final turn, Severus Hanover stretched out his lead by a few lengths to post a three-quarter time 1:28.1 and then cruised home under no urging from Jamieson to win by 1-3/4 lengths. Oaklea Wyatt finished second, while Latoka took the third spot.
Severus Hanover is a 4-year-old son of Explosive Matter and is trained by David Frey for owner 373818 Ontario Limited of Maple, Ontario. Monday’s victory was the trotter’s seventh career triumph and improved his 2015 record to two wins from three starts. The winner’s share of the purse increased his career bankroll to $58,208. Severus Hanover paid $7.50 to win.
In the second division, Bourbon Bay pulled off the upset victory to snap Bags For All’s four-race win streak.
Driven by Mike Saftic, Bourbon Bay was parked for the majority of the first turn before clearing in front of the 4-5 favorite Bags For All. However, James MacDonald and Bags For All did not wait long to move from the two-hole and circled around Bourbon Bay to take the lead at the half in :57.
After posting a three-quarter time of 1:26.3, Bags For All led the field into the stretch with Bourbon Bay following closely in behind. In the stretch, Saftic and Bourbon Bay took their shot at Bags For All from the two-hole and were able to just get by the favorite in deep stretch to prevail by a half-length in 1:55.3. Cash For Gold, who was second over around the final turn, got up for third.
Racing primarily in New York, Bourbon Bay shipped into the Mike Sinclair barn to win his WEG circuit debut Monday night. A 4-year-old son of Sand Vic, Bourbon Bay is leased by John Cummings of Lancaster, N.Y. and now has seven career victories, including two of three starts this season. Bourbon Bay’s career earnings are now at $39,701. The clocking of 1:55.3 knocked more than three seconds off the trotter’s previous lifetime mark. Bourbon Bay paid $24 to win.
In order to be eligible to the General Brock Series, the trotters had to be non-winners of C$50,000 lifetime as of Oct. 31, 2014. Round two of the General Brock Series is scheduled for next Monday (Feb. 9).