Robert Manders trainees completed the exacta in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 at The Raceway at Western Fair District Tuesday, May 8, with odds-on favourite Bourbon Seelster wiring the field over Casino Classic in 1:54.1.
Bourbon Seelster slid to the front from post six, leading stablemate Casino Classic through a :28.1 opening quarter. Teachers Vet, positioned third, edged first over approaching lap two, sitting two lengths off the front through a :57.4 half.
Teachers Vet matched strides with pocket-sitter Casino Classic approaching three quarters while Bourbon Seelster held a length-and-a-half advantage moving into the final turn. Following three quarters in 1:25.4, Teachers Vet faltered while Bourbon Seelster held control turning for home, extending her winning margin to two-and-one-quarter lengths at the line over Casino Classic. Pinky Tuscadero, off a rail trip, finished third.
A five-year-old mare by Camluck out of the Bettors Delight mare Tarport Baccarat, Bourbon Seelster, owned by W. Scott Manders and Keith Manders, won her fifth race in 12 starts this season and her 17th in 47 overall, compiling $192,160 in earnings. Driven by Scott Coulter, she paid $3.70 to win.
Ride Away Shark rode away with a win in the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace, holding pocket-popper Miss Brandi K off by a head in 1:56.3.
The odds-on favourite, Ride Away Shark took control from post one and paced the first quarter in :28.4 with Miss Brandi K sitting second. Insincerity, sitting sixth at the quarter, moved first over into the stretch, initiating her bid from nearly eight lengths off the lead passing the half in :58.3.
Insincerity drew within three lengths of pacesetter Ride Away Shark in the backstretch. Regal Luck, from last, picked up her cover approaching the three-quarter pole while Ride Away Shark passed that marker in 1:27.2. Ride Away Shark turned for home one-and-one-half lengths in front of Miss Brandi K, who made her move after the leader in the stretch, missing narrowly at the line. Regal Luck, tipping off cover, rallied for third.
Winning her third race in 10 starts this season and her 18th in 120 overall, Ride Away Shark, a six-year-old mare by Classic Card Shark out of the Dream Away mare Freedom Away, has earned $290,095 in her career. Owned by Kimberley Mcniven and Thomas Brodhurst, trained by Scott Mcniven and driven by Travis Henry, she paid $3.20 to win.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.