'Royalty' Dethroned In Truro Finale
Intended Royalty's reign over the top pacers at Truro Raceway came to an end on Sunday afternoon (Dec. 13), as Donald Beaton's Daddy Let Me Drive ($8.00) proved unflappable on the front end in the featured $2,000 winners-over pacing event on the final card of the 2020 meeting.
Daddy Let Me Drive and driver Rodney Gillis benefitted from the pole position, which they protected to establish early control of the pace while 1-5 favourite Intended Royalty (Redmond Doucet) tucked in third after leaving from the extreme outside. Daddy Let Me Drive controlled a :27.4 first quarter before facing a sustained first-over push from Johnnywalkerdelux (Ralph MacKay) through middle sectionals of :56.3 and 1:25.4.
Intended Royalty took his strongest shot on approach to the final turn — launching a three-wide push off stalled cover and briefly working into a joint second — but Daddy Let Me Drive put the accelerator down and fled the scene off the corner for home. The six-year-old I Can Only Imagine gelding drew off to win by three lengths in 1:56.4. Rusty Riley (Paul Langille) narrowly protected second over Intended Royalty after riding the pocket throughout.
It was the second consecutive win for Daddy Let Me Drive, his sixth of the season, and the 19th of his career.
By way of a driving double on the eight-race card, Paul Langille secured the Truro driving title with 39 wins over the Bible Hill oval this season to runner-up Darren Crowe's 33. George Rennison, also recording a double, captured top training honours with his stable accounting for 35 winners, six better than Langille's 29.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Truro Raceway.