A four-pack of $7,000 eliminations for the City Of London Pacing Series went postward Tuesday evening at The Raceway at Western Fair District, with the boys squaring off in a set of contests and the girls going toe-to-toe in a pair.
Pauly Wally was a gate-to-wire victor in his assignment for driver Bob McClure and trainer Dean Nixon. Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, the four-year-old son of Shadow Play-Armbro Brio threw down panels of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27 before scooting home in :28.1 to win in 1:55.1. It was 4-3/4 lengths in arrears to Beach Volley Ball, with Blackjack Seelster finishing third.
Tony Basile and Andrew Atlas share ownership on the gelding who now boasts a record of 8-1-0 from 11 starts this season. He’s quickly closing in on $50,000 in lifetime earnings.
Fireball turned a two-hole trip into an eye-catching score in the second elimination. Trainer/driver Wayne Henry accepted the pocket spot with the colt and stalked Southwind Diesel through fractions of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:25.4 before going on the offensive. A :28.3 closing panel was enough to earn Fireball the win by a head over Southwind Diesel in 1:54.3. Heavily-favoured Walter Mitty was third.
Fred Brayford of Alliston, Ont. owns the three-year-old son of Mach Three-Future Fire N who extended his winning streak to three-in-a-row with the tally. The five-time winner pushed his lifetime earnings over $18,000 in the process.
Youvegotawaywithme was a late-driving winner in her $7,000 elimination for driver Bob McClure. Sent off at odds of 19-1, the filly got away third before getting shuffled to fourth at the half. She found racetrack to work with in the backstretch, and her first-over bid started to get serious as the field headed into the final quarter of the contest. Youvegotawaywithme used a :28.3 kicker to win by half a length over odds-on favourite Northern Lauren in 1:57.3. Taking home the show dough was Bag Of Cards.
Bill Kirkpatrick of Amherstburg, Ont. owns and trains the three-year-old daughter of Mach Three-Dexter Shmoopy. The homebred went 2-for-5 last season, and she’s a perfect 2-for-2 to kick off her 2017 campaign. She’s banked $11,604 to date.
Casino Classic pulled off an upset of her own in the second elimination thanks to an impressive victory in come-from-behind fashion for driver Ryan Holliday. The filly got away in the pocket spot from Post 6, and she remained there through first-half fractions of :28.3 and 1:00. Race favourite Lotus Seelster dictated those panels before taking the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:30. She was out-sprinted to the line, however, as Casino Classic fired home in :28.2 to seal the deal by a length over Lotus Seelster in 1:58.4. Funny Three rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Sent off at odds of 8-1 for trainer Robert Manders, the three-year-old daughter of Classic Card Shark-Art Alliance notched her first win of the year from three starts after going 2-for-7 last season. Richard and Keith Manders share ownership on the career winner of $12,595.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.