Thursday's card of harness racing was dedicated to the victims of the barn fire at Classy Lane Training Centre, but the on-track action featured the first leg of the Blizzard Series.
Amazing Control was amazingly dominant in the first Blizzard division. The Meg Crone trainee was a wire-to-wire winner for driver Jody Jamieson, crushing her foes by nine lengths in a lifetime best 1:54. Sophies Shadow (Doug McNair) took bridesmaid honours while Boozer Bruiser (Anthony MacDonald) completed the triactor.
Hutt Racing Stable holds the papers on four-year-old pacing mare Amazing Control (Shadow Play - Fit N Fancy), who picked up her second career win.
While the win margin wasn't as impressive, the win time certainly was for Bad As Leader. In rein to Trevor Henry for trainer Victor Puddy, the sophomore pacing filly allowed an early tussle on the front end to settle before taking the lead just past the half and holding on for a length and a half decision in 1:53.3 over a strongly-closing Cracklin Rosie (Phil Hudon) and Uno Cincuenta (Jamieson).
Bill Manes of Rockwood and William Cripps of Acton, Ont. own Bad As Leader (Badlands Hanover - Designated Leader), a homebred that now boasts three wins in just five lifetime starts.
The final Blizzard split went to 13-1 shot Dontbruisecarrie, giving Jody Jamieson his second Blizzard score on the night (part of four wins on the card). The upset-minded filly was able to pick off favoured Double Olives (Mike Saftic) for the win in a lifetime best 1:55. Shesagamemajor (Mario Baillargeon) was another three lengths back of the front pair.
Dontbruisecarrie (Believeinbruiser - How Is Carrie) notched her maiden-breaking win in her tenth lifetime start for trainer Lou Eftimiadis and owner High Stakes Stable Inc. of Farmington Hills, Mich.
The series, open to three- and four-year-old pacing fillies and mares in 2016 who are non-winners of two (2) races or $30,000 lifetime as of midnight, October 31, 2015, continues next Thursday with the $35,000 final slated for Friday, January 22.