After just falling short in his seasonal debut last week, Daylight Rush was victorious in Monday's $11,000 Preferred 2 Handicap at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

Paul MacKenzie hustled Daylight Rush to the position of command from the outermost post in the field of six as Lyons River Pride (J Harris) yielded, content to sit the pocket behind the public choice. Daylight Rush clicked off a :29 opener and a :58.3 half before feeling pressure from Lets Wait And See (Nick Steward).

Daylight Rush was still strong through a 1:27.3 third panel, repelling the earlier threat but to be challenged by Good Friday Three (Bob McClure) around the final turn. Uf Dragons Rocket was on that one's back and both loomed the danger heading for home. As the wire approached, the pacers from the back of the pack closed with every stride but the bids were futile as Daylight Rush tripped the timer a head the best in 1:57.2. Uf Dragons Rocket was next best over Good Friday Three.

Blake MacIntosh trains and co-owns Daylight Rush (Art Colony - Pass With Caution) along with Hutt Racing Stable. The four-year-old gelding notched his tenth lifetime win and pushed his lifetime bankroll to nearly $160,000 with the victory.

The pocket-riding Pay Later sprung for a mild upset in Monday's $7,500 Preferred 3 Pace. As 1-2 choice Shippen Out (Alfie Carroll) carved out fractions of :28.1, :58.1 and 1:27.4, Bob McClure had Pay Later poised in the pocket while They Call Me Gordy (Scott Young) provided pressure through the middle half of the mile.

Think On It (Scott Coulter) and B N Bad (Travis Henry) fanned out wide off cover for the stretch drive but McClure found room up the rail to pick off the pacesetter for the 1:58.1 triumph. Shippen Out stayed for second with B N Bad completing the triactor.

Seven-year-old Pay Later (Western Terror - Michelles Fury) notched the second win of the campaign for trainer Dennis Spitzig and owner Angela Spitzig of Sarnia, Ont. The win bumps the gelding's lifetime bankroll to just shy of $80,000.

For the results from Western Fair's Monday card, click the following link: Monday Results - Western Fair.