Odds-on choice Life Is Better brushed for the front after a swift first quarter and coasted from there to post a track record victory in taking the $5,000 Preferred 4 Pace at Leamington Raceway on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 7).

Its Eds Idea charged for the lead to click the first quarter in :26.4 before pulling back for a breather. As the tempo slowed, driver Scott Wray swung Life Is Better from the pocket and circled to the lead heading to a :57.2 half. From there, he faced a slight challenge from Mr Cheeseman to three-quarters in 1:26.1 until the six-year-old Betterthancheddar stallion pulled clear of his competition. Life Is Better spun for home with a widening lead capped by the beam at four lengths in a 1:55.4 mile over Its Eds Idea. Mr Cheeseman settled for third.

Life Is Better's time drops the Leamington track record for aged pacing stallions by a full second. It bested the nearly seven-year-old record cemented by Sandburg Hanover, who set a mark of 1:56.4 on Sept. 7, 2015. 

Trainer Kenneth Mathieson co-owns Life Is Better with Henry Banakiewicz. He won his eighth race from 19 starts this season and his 21st from 103 overall and has now banked $120,091 in his career. He paid $2.80 to win.

Earlier in the card, Lolas Sunshine paced a coast-to-coast mile to take the $7,000 Prospect Series division for three-year-old fillies. The daughter of Sunshine Beach led every step through a clip of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:30.3 to stop the clock in 2:00.2. She finished 1-3/4 lengths better than pocket-sitter Ribbon Ridge while Canvas Of Stars, who made a first-over move passing the half, settled for third.

Scott McNiven trains and co-owns Lolas Sunshine with Thomas Brodhurst, Donald Douglas and Bradley McNiven. She won her second race from 23 starts and has now banked $19,518. Off as the even-money choice, she paid $4.20 to win.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.