Ouellette drives first winner in IWD race

International Women’s Day proved a good one for harness racing horsewoman Anita Ouellette, who secured her first career driving victory in one of two all-female driver races held belatedly on Thursday (Mar. 9) at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Interference at the start left her and Lifeguard (Sunshine Beach) well back heading into the first turn, and Ouellette hustled the gelding to catch the pack while Coolsunshine (Debi O’Brien-Moran) steamed through an opening panel of :27 up top.

The leader laid down a half of :56 and began to kick away through three-quarters in 1:25.4. Ouellette activated Lifeguard at the top of the lane, swinging the gelding furthest outside. Coolsunshine carried a five-length advantage past the eighth pole, but Lifegaurd, now past his other rivals, ignited to blow by him in the final strides for the victory.

He was three-quarters of a length clear of Coolsunshine at the line. Bluemoon Bayama (Jessica Turenne) finished third.

ANITA OUELLETTE / LIFEGUARD REPLAY

It was Ouellette’s fifth career drive and her first of the season. Her best prior finish was third in a similar event on Aug. 15, 2022. Lifeguard, trained by Jonathan Panos for Martin Kuepfer of Elmwood, is four-for-39 lifetime with $25,993 in earnings.

“Once I got around the pack I thought ‘oh, I could be second, that would be great.’ And then I just hollered at the horse really good and I guess the horse responded,” said a jubilant Ouellette in a post-race interview.

Marie Claude Auger provided Always N The Money (Always A Virgin) a pocket trip to capture the other all-women’s pace in 1:56. She sat 13-year-old gelding behind Four For Orr, whom Natasha Day sent to the front. The leader cut :27.1, :57.1, and 1:27.1 fractions, but Always N The Money motored past him in deep-stretch to score in 1:56. Four For Orr finished second by three-quarters of a length. Matts Tuition (Julie Walker) took third.

MARIE CLAUDE AUGER / ALWAYS N THE MONEY REPLAY

The win means Auger is batting 1.000 in 2023; the Rideau Carleton Raceway regular is still awaiting the re-opening of her track, set for Apr. 2. It was a milestone for Always N The Money, who has now tallied 50 wins in 346 career outings and has earned $441,947. Richard Moreau trains the gelding for Mark Jakubik of West Seneca.

All of the participating drivers were: Marie Claude Auger, Natasha Day, Julie Walker, Jessica Turenne, Kayla Chappell, Samara Johnson, Pam Forgie, Anita Ouellette, Debi O’Brien-Moran, Marielle Enberg, Julie Walker, and Maggie Jones.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink