Thundering Bay Upsets; Photogenic Mares Battle
The toteboard was lit up by 21-1 outsider, Thundering Bay, in Thursday’s $13,000 Preferred Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway, which also featured the opening round of the Photogenic Mares Series
Thundering Bay, who won a $10,700 conditioned pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway in his latest outing on March 1, survived a first-over journey to win this week’s top class for the pacers in a time of 1:56.4 for trainer/driver Darcy Clancy. Race favourite Amazon Art was second best, with Mach It Paid taking home third prize.
Walter Clancy of Odessa, ON holds the ownership papers on the nine-year-old son of Albert Albert-Cams Crystal, who is a 17-time winner with earnings in excess of close to $110,000.
Three- and four-year-old female pacers slugged it out in three divisions of the Photogenic Mares Series on Thursday evening, with Star Of Beauty rallying for a 2:00.3 score in the opening tilt. Guy Gagnon came first-over with the five-year-old Aces N Sevens-Star Of Emily miss, and the distaffer drew off to win by a one-length margin over Co Op Hanover, with Believeitanyway a bang-up third.
Trainer Jennifer Smiley shares ownership on the homebred with Andrea Smiley of Gatineau, QC. Together, they’ve watched the mare go 2-for-21 in her career while stashing away $18,366.
Barockey picked up her second consecutive victory for trainer/driver Ted McDonald, who drew away to a three-length win with the filly despite being forced into a first-over trip scenario. The three-year-old daughter of Mach Three-Mystical Maiden stopped the clock in a career-best clocking of 1:58.3 en route to defeating Upfrontandpersonal and Meet Me Halfway.
Julie Ferguson of Greely, ON owns the four-time winner, who pushed her cash stash to $14,025 with the winning effort.
Rockin Belle wired up the foes she faced en route to a six-length tally in 1:57.3 for the tandem of driver Simon Allard and trainer Rene Allard. The three-year-old daughter of Rocknroll Hanover-Barrington Belle A sliced out splits of :27.2, :58.2 and 1:28 before finishing off the competition with a :29.3 final frame. Just Coastin Along was second, with Balliamo taking home the show dough.
Trainer Allard shares ownership on the pacer with Anatolia Racing Stb Inc of Hopewell Junction, NY. It was her first win of the season, and the third to date for the career winner of $16,950.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.