Post seven assignments proved to be no problem for Saulsbrook Jessie and Tymal Houdini in a series of $10,000 Preferred 3 races featured at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Friday night (Nov. 12).

Dropping from the Preferred 2 level and assigned the outside post seven in the distaff pacing division, Saulsbrook Jessie took the lead at the quarter pole and never looked back en route to a 1:57.1 victory for the father-son, trainer-driver team of Ron and Brett MacDonald.

The five-year-old Big Jim-Atlanta Girl mare was four-wide early on to make front by the :28.1 first quarter mark then led the field of eight through middle splits of :58.1 and 1:27.1 on her way to a 1-1/2-length victory. In play early, the favoured Reys N A Rocket (Paul MacKenzie) held on for second after pursuing the winner first-up while the late-closing Buttermilk Hanover (Travis Henry) finished third.

Sent off as the 7-2 third choice, Saulsbrook Jessie returned $9.10 to win. The victory was her fourth of the year to go along with 11 other top three finishes from 27 starts and pushed her annual income to $57,162 for owner Edward Gorc of Sudbury, Ont. A 16-time career winner, Saulsbrook Jessie has earned $158,786 lifetime.

A winner in the Preferred 3 trotting class last Friday, post seven assignee Tymal Houdini delivered another front-end score -- this time in 1:59 flat with Colin Kelly aboard for trainer Stephen Bossence.

The 7-5 favourite sprinted off the gate to establish the lead through a :27.4 opening quarter and was rated through a half in :57.4 and three-quarters in 1:27.2 before cruising home a 2-3/4-length winner ahead of Katch Kanna (Jason Ryan) and Conquest As (J Harris).

Tymal Houdini paid $4.80 to win. The five-year-old son of Kadabra out of Lexus Hall now sports a seasonal record reading 5-6-3 from 21 starts with earnings of $41,125 this year for E C S Racing of Rockford, Michigan. The victory was his 10th lifetime and bumped his career bankroll to $111,493.

With the inside post advantage in the other trotting division, 6-5 favourite Scene A Magician rounded out the Preferred 3 winners on Friday's card with a 1:58 season's best effort.

Driven by Garrett Rooney for trainer/owner Jennifer Pinkerton, the seven-year-old Daylon Magician-Scene Duharas gelding protected his pylon position through the first turn and posted panels of :28.1 and :58.2 before drawing off past three-quarters in 1:27.2. Scene A Magician won by 6-1/2 lengths with Charmbro Prince (Paul MacKenzie) and trotting mare Lefkada (Scott Wray), the outside assignee here who got away at the rear of the field, closing from the backfield to finish second and third, respectively.

Scene A Magician notched his 20th career victory and third of the year from 18 starts, pushing his earnings to $31,000 in 2021 and $255,277 lifetime. He paid $4.40 to win.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway