Millionaire pacing mare Monkey On My Wheel delivered on her pari-mutuel promise with a 1:52 winning effort in Saturday's featured $35,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack.
Leaving from post three with Keith Oliver aboard, Monkey On My Wheel gave way to outsider Rub N Tug (Rick Zeron) during a :27.4 opening panel and followed the leader to the half in :56.3. Meanwhile, Voelz Hanover (Mario Baillargeon) began to advance from third down the backstretch and cleared to command past the middle mark with Jet Speed (Doug McNair) tipping to the outside from the backfield.
Voelz Hanover led the way to three-quarters in 1:24.1 before Monkey On My Wheel made her move. Oliver sent the daughter of Mach Three after the leader and wore her down in the stretch for the one and a half length triumph. Jet Speed kicked home for second with Maureen Rocks (Chris Christoforou) following in third.
Monkey On My Wheel, who missed making it into tonight's Forest City Pace at Western Fair Raceway with a fifth-place finish in the eliminations during a 1:52.4 track record mile over the half-mile oval, paid $4.80 to win the Preferred as the favourite.
Canada's 2011 Three-Year-Old Pacing Filly of the Year has put together a record reading 3-2-3 in 19 starts during her aged campaign while banking $131,610 in purses.
Trainer Travis Umphrey shares ownership of the career winner of 13 races and $1.16 million in purses with breeder Mac Nichol of Burlington, Ont. and Timothy Kane of St. Albert, Alta.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.