Driver Brandon Campbell completed a clean sweep of the four-year-old pacing finals finals that highlighted the Sunday (Aug. 4) 10-race card at The Track On 2. Westcoast Captive secured victory in the $27,600 Elizabeth Johnson Memorial, while Mercedes cruised in the $29,500 Ron Orr Final.

The Elizabeth Johnson for four-year-old mare paces served as the sixth race on the card where Westcoast Captive capitalized on the pocket trip to earn the victory. Campbell and Westcoast Captive set sail for the front from post seven, taking command of the field of nine through a first quarter of :29.2. Elimination winner Van Nuys (driven by Philip Giesbrecht) moved from fourth to take over from Westcoast Captive on the backstretch and lead to the half in :57.3. Van Nuys maintained control on the final turn, reaching three-quarters in 1:26.3 with Westcoast Captive ready to tip off of the Giesbrecht helmet.

In the stretch, Westcoast Captive quickly pulled alongside Van Nuys as the lead duo was joined by Avas Angel Baby (Jamie Gray) who made a three-wide bid from third. Sprinting home in :27.2, Westcoast Captive surged to the wire 1-1/2 lengths clear of Avas Angel Baby to win in 1:54.1. Van Nuys held for third while fellow elim winner Short Sell Hanover (Kelly Hoerdt) rallied for fourth. Westcoast Captive paid $16.30 to win.

Trained by John Chappell, the win was the first of the season in seven tries for Westcoast Captive. The homebred daughter of Captive Audience-Alley Scat has now banked $53,477 lifetime following the career best effort for owner Ross Sharp.

Campbell utilized another aggressive steer to take the Ron Orr for four-year-old pacers aboard the aptly named Mercedes. Saddled with the outside post eight, Mercedes blasted off of the wings of the gate and quickly found a seat in third while Hurrikane Ferrigno protected the rail position to cut the quarter in :27.3. Campbell fed the 4-5 favourite racetrack on the backstretch, taking command just before reaching the half in a blistering :55.2. Mercedes brought the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:23.3 while Hurrikane Ferrigno took a peak to his outside.

In the lane, Mercedes quickly responded to the challenge, rebuffing Hurrikane Ferrigno and opening up on the field. Motoring home in :27.4, Mercedes crushed by 6-1/4 lengths on the wire to stop the timer in a lifetime best 1:51.2. Opulent Dragon (Nathan Sobey) closed for second, Hurrikane Ferrigno finished third.

Campbell also does the training on Mercedes who is a five-time winner in eight seasonal starts. The son of All Bets Off-Skade is owned by Raymond Henry who also bred the horse along with Jodi Loftus. Mercedes now sports a career bankroll of $41,640.

The 1:51.2 clocking was just a fifth of a second off of the all-time Track On 2 track record, established by Kioti in August of 2023. The current track record holder was also in action on the Sunday card, winning against $5,500 conditioned company in 1:53.4 with driver Nathan Sobey in the bike.

Campbell scored in the finale as well with Alpine Billy for the Sunday hat-trick. Drivers Nathan Sobey, Philip Giesbrecht and David Kelly each scored two victories on the card. 

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - The Track On 2.

(Standardbred Canada)