Plenty of excitement on opening night at Woodbine

The meet got off to an intriguing start, as two-year-old pacing filly Quite A Sight scored a 12-1 upset in the opening race for driver Randy Waples and breeder/owner/trainer Bob McIntosh. 

The daughter of Camluck stopped the timer in 1:54.4 to improve to two for three to start her career.

Quite A Sight was not the only rookie to grab the opening night spotlight, as Wind Blast and You Said It brought the heat on Thursday.

Mach Three gelding Wind Blast blew the doors off his rivals with a front-end score in 1:53 for Waples at 3-1. The Jack Darling trained rookie was able to knock almost a full-second off his previous mark of 1:53.4, which was established in his most recent outing on October 2 at Mohawk.

Wind Blast, who competed earlier this season in Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots action, is now two for five and has banked $25,087 for Jack Darling Stables Ltd.

The evening’s seventh-race saw Well Said colt You Said It overcome an interference break early to rally and win in impressive fashion.

The Ben Wallace trained rookie was knocked off-stride by a breaking rival an eighth of a mile into the race and had to reset for driver Doug McNair in eighth. You Said It would move to the outside nearing the half and ended up fourth-over and eighth in the field turning for home.

You Said It unleashed a :27 final-quarter to zoom late and score a victory by a neck in 1:55.2. It was the first win in 11 outings for the son of Well Said, who was purchased privately in August by Brad Grant.

Driver Sylvain Filion led the way Thursday by each picking up three victories, including a 29-1 upset with five-year-old claiming pacer Er Quinn in the finale. Leading trainer Richard Moreau wasted no time adding to his strong numbers, as he sent out two winners on Thursday.

Horseplayers were ready to jump in and play on opening night at Woodbine. The Pick-5 pool attracted $66,088 and paid $1,345.50 for a $0.20 winning ticket, while the Early Pick-4 had a pool of $56,660 and returned $138.65 for a $1 ticket.

Live racing continues Friday night at Woodbine. Post time is 7:30 p.m.