Braiden Reibeling visited the winner's circle for the first time in his driving career after the evening's first race at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Tuesday (Nov. 30).
Reibeling worked a pocket trip with Shes Gold, a three-year-old Hes Watching filly trained by Matthew Panos. Sitting in that stalking spot, Reibeling made his move on the leader to three-quarters, inched to equal terms off the bend and edged away to a length victory in a 2:03.3 mile. The victory for Reibeling came in his fourth start from the sulky, with his first pari-mutuel drive on November 25 at Flamboro Downs.
Action on the front poised pocket-sitter Heresthatmanagain to spring into action late and hit the finish first at odds of 10-1 in the $8,800 featured pace.
Shazam Blue Chip, the 2-1 favourite, set the tempo as Strong Enough N pulled first over from the pylon post into a :28.3 first quarter. After starting at the pegs, Strong Enough N found himself parked wide of the pacesetter through a :58.1 half and to three-quarters in 1:28.2 all while Heresthatmanagain sat snugly to the inside. The first-over trip wore on Strong Enough N off the final turn and, while faltering, a seam opened for Heresthatmanagain to swing out of the pocket and nail Shazam Blue Chip at the beam by three-quarter lengths in 2:00. Chappiesboy rallied from last to finish third.
A homebred for Garrett Rooney and Richard Carroll, Heresthatmanagain won his seventh race from 23 starts this season and his eighth from 35 overall, pushing his earnings to $36,871. Carroll conditions the four-year-old Warrawee Needy stallion, who paid $22.30 to win, while Rooney sat in the sulky.
In the co-featured $8,800 pace for fillies & mares, A Black Diamond dashed for the front heading to the final turn and held firm to the finish of a 1:58.3 mile. The three-year-old Betterthancheddar filly sat third while Dandy Idea set a tempo of :28.1, :58.3 and 1:28. Moving to three-quarters, driver Colin Kelly sent A Black Diamond off the pegs and blitzed the leader to the final turn, taking over control heading into the stretch and withstanding a rally from Lydias Liberty to win by a head. Dandy Idea finished third another five lengths behind while Dazzlin Rosie rallied for fourth.
Owned by Brad Gray, A Black Diamond won her seventh race from 22 starts, pushing her earnings to $41,933. Kyle Bossence trains the $3.40 winner.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.