A four-pack of Preferred events were contested Tuesday evening at The Raceway at Western Fair District, with two going to the girls and two to the guys.
Thundering Ovation kicked off the Preferred parade with a 1:59.4 score in the $7,000 Preferred 3 for trotters. Sent off as the 6-5 favourite, she fired to the front and carved out panels of :28.2, :59.2 and 1:29.3 for Paul MacKenzie before getting hauled down in the final stride by Lily Pad Hanover. That foe, however, was later placed back to second for a pylon violation committed in the first turn. Thundering Ovation, therefore, was awarded the win in 1:59.4. House Of Cash rallied to finish third.
Gerry Sloan trains the five-year-old daughter of Thunder Road-Shesintuff for Joanne & Courtney Sloan of Harley, Ontario. The homebred, who is now 12-for-31 this season, won for the 23rd time in her career. She’s banked close to $230,000 to date.
Lawmen Reign turned a ground-saving trip into a 1:58 triumph in the $7,000 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3 just four races later. Trainer/driver Ross Battin tripped out his charge while race favourite Stoney Durkin rolled the group through fractions of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:28.3. Lawmen Reign shook loose late and used a :28.4 kicker to win by three-quarters of a length over Stoney Durkin in 1:58. Taking home the show dough was Milliondollarcell.
The seven-year-old son of Rambaran-Tiger Reigns races for Battin and his wife, Marg. It was his seventh win of the season and the 23rd of his career. The homebred has banked in excess of $40,000 this year and more than $150,000 to date.
Kendal Gustav went to the front and didn’t look back in the other $7,000 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3. Lorne House hustled the gelding to the lead from Post 2 and whacked out splits of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:26.2 before cruising home in :29.3 for the 1:56 decision. It was 5-1/2 lengths in arrears to runner-up Bestofthebunch, with Ciona Bromach taking home the show dough.
Trainer Scott McNiven co-owns the five-year-old son of Life Sign-City Of Dreams with Tom Brodhurst of London and Shirley Griffin of St. Thomas, Ontario. The partners watched the pacer win for the 11th time this season and for the 28th time in his career. His earnings now stand at $181,799.
Somethinincredible extended her winning streak to two-in-a-row thanks to her 1:58.4 tally in the $7,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3. Scott Coulter made a bold, three-wide move with the filly going to the three-quarter pole and then used her :29.3 closing speed to prevail by a length over Haute Couture in 1:58.4. Topanga Canyon tagged along to finish third.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, the Bob McIntosh-trained three-year-old daughter of Ponder-Breathdefying improved her 2014 record to 3-3-3 from 17 starts with the victory. The career winner of $329,682 is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, C S X Stables and Dave Boyle.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair Distirct.