The winners in Monday’s $13,500 Preferred events at Western Fair Raceway were very impressive, but by no means did the victories come easily

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Kashas Kid took the top trot on the 12-race card winning by a quarter of a length in 1:58. Brad Forward came first over with the five-year-old son of Andover Hall and cleared to the lead shortly past the mid-way point. After opening up a big lead turning for home, the Rene Allard student held on to win by the narrow margin over runner-up Sand Wyndham. Race favourite Connected Yankee had to settle for third prize.

Allard holds the papers on the gelding, who found his way to the winner’s circle for the third time in seven starts this season. The 15-time winner has deposited more than $139,000 into his bank account.

Pacific Oak tripped out in the pocket in the Preferred Pace, and that certainly played a big role in helping the gelding notch a half-length triumph in the $13,500 affair. Paul MacKenzie mapped out the 1:54.2 victory for the Ken Oliver trainee, who stalked pacesetter – and eventual runner-up – Button Up through panels of :26.4, :57 and 1:25. Last week’s Preferred winner, Part Shark, rounded out the top three finishers.

Shirley and Kerry House of St. Jacobs, ON hold the papers on the seven-year-old son of Pacific Rocket, who now owns a 2-3-3 record in his first 11 starts of the 2010 campaign. The 27-time winner has earned more than $271,000 to date.

Monday’s undercard featured also featured the $11,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace plus a $10,000 event for Preferred-2 pacers.

Lady Latte won the dash for distaffers in a time of 1:55.3 for the team of driver Mike Sumner and trainer Bill Hamm. The four-year-old roan daughter of No Pan Intended led through fractions of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:26.4 before finishing off the 1:55.3 win with a final quarter clocked in :28.4. Shellace sat the pocket trip and grabbed the runner-up award while Outofthefryingpan rallied to finish third.

The 18-time winner has assembled a 9-0-1 record in her first 13 starts of the season, and that has helped the mare boost her lifetime earnings to $90,931.

Carnivore led for most of the mile en route to posting a half-length triumph in the Preferred-2 tilt for the tandem of driver Doug McNair and trainer Jack Darling. The four-year-old son of Real Desire stopped the clock in 1:56 to defeat All The Weapons and Kountry Luck.

Jack Darling Stables Ltd of Cambridge, ON owns the pacer, who picked up his second win of the season from just five trips postward. It was the 10th lifetime tally for the career winner of $553,898.

To view Monday’s results, click here.