The last time Friendly Amigo visited the winner’s circle was October 2, 2011 at Grand River Raceway, and the driver on that occasion was Bruce Richardson

. The mare had gone without the hands of Richardson at her lines until an assignment in Tuesday’s $15,500 Preferred Trot at The Raceway at the Western Fair District – and lo and behold she regained her winning stride.

Friendly Amigo disappointed an army of backers that sent her off as the 1-2 favourite at Flamboro Downs on January 27, but in Tuesday’s follow-up performance the only people she disappointed were the ones that didn’t plunk their wagering dollars on her nose.

After starting from the second tier over London’s half-mile oval, Richardson had the mare parked past the quarter pole in :29.3 before brushing her to the top. Once she cleared to the lead she led the group through middle intervals of :59.2 and 1:29.1 before sealing the deal with a :30-second final quarter. That was good enough to earn her the win by 2-3/4 lengths over Stonebridge Spirit in a time of 1:59.1. Just One Day tagged along to finish third.

Blair Burgess trains the six-year-old daughter of Amigo Hall-Diminutive for his wife, Karin Olsson Burgess, and his father, Hall of Famer Robert Burgess. The homebred, who is now a 15-time winner, upped her lifetime earnings to $577,551 with the tally.

To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at the Western Fair District.