One evening, featuring two series and two pacers looking for a clean sweep in their respective $50,000 Series, highlight Saturday night's (February 18) harness racing card at Woodbine. Bay Of Sharks will headline the WEGZ Pacing Series Final.
The son of Cams Card Shark-Whitley Bay, who is four-for-five this year, will be looking to notch his third straight win after romping in the preliminary legs.
Trainer Corey Johnson believes Bay Of Sharks is ready for the skirmish.
“He drew the eight-hole, but I think he should overcome that quite well,” said Johnson of the 15-time career winner. “Speaking with Jody (driver Jamieson), he feels like this horse is better than he has ever been.”
After a five and a quarter length win in the first leg and a two and a quarter length score in the second, Johnson says the six-year-old is in top form.
“He won both series pretty handily, so I am pretty confident going in,” he said. “He trained quite well this week. He trains well every week, he is that kind of horse, but he is definitely showing me that he is in very good health and shape going into the final.”
The conditioner believes that Bay Of Sharks, who clocked the fastest divisions in both rounds (1:50.4, 1:52.2), is a multi-talented pacer.
“He can race a second-over trip just like he can race on the front,” said the Laval, Quebec native. “He is pretty versatile, so no matter how the race unfolds, I don’t think it would bother me at all.”
Jamieson will steer the 2-1 morning line favourite for owner Michael Sergi of Canton, New York. Bay Of Sharks will line up behind the gate in the eighth race.
After the WEGZ Series, Johnson will be aiming the bay towards the Spring Pacing Championship at Woodbine.
The WEGZ Series, formerly the Ontario Boys Pacing Series, was renamed in 2011 after WEGZ Stadium Bar, a 23,000 sq. ft. sports entertainment complex in Vaughan.
In the HorsePlayer Interactive Pacing Series final, You Thrill Me also captured both legs of her series. The seven-year-old daughter of Jate Lobell-Lady A will also put her three-race win streak on the line this weekend.
With Scott Zeron in the bike for Pennsylvania’s Burke Racing Stable LLC and Weaver Bruscemi LLC, You Thrill Me will have to overcome post 10 in the sixth race.
The mare is the 3-1 morning line favourite.