Through a confident first-over grind, Litizor prevailed in the $5,000 Open Pace at The Loop on Saturday, Aug. 10.

Driver Don Howlett dropped Litizor into third as One Last Bet (driven by Blake Piwniuk) scooted away from the rail to take early control and set the tempo ahead of his five rivals. After a :29.2 opener, favoured Armycaptin Hanover (Michel Rey) started the outer flow from fifth around the three-eighths point, and that flushed out Litizor from the three hole just before the half was reached in 60 seconds even.

One Last Bet continued his front-end mission as Litizor continued to stalk thr leader through the 1:29.4 third station, with Armycaptin Hanover looming the danger and Chazmichaelmichael (Richard Remillard) looking anxious in the pocket. Around the final turn, Chazmichaelmichael found room to vacate the garden spot as Rey angled Armycaptin Hanover off Howlett's helmet. But Litizor had no intention of letting the backfield get to him. He forged past pacesetter One Last Bet in the stretch to win by three parts of a length in 1:59.4 holding off the late lunges of second place Chazmichaelmichael and show horse Armycaptin Hanover.

Trained by Mathew Howlett, six-year-old Litizor (Vertical Horizon - Mothers Melody) is owned by his driver and Dwayne Taylor of Minto, Man. The win was his second of the season and 14th lifetime, lifting his earnings to $72,625. He returned $14.50 to win.

Choozetocruise ($4.00) maintained her fine form, staying perfect on the season by winning the afternoon's fourth race in a time of 2:00 for trainer-owner Trevor Williams and driver Glenn LeDrew. The daughter of Lambretta - Kilo Dream now sports a five-race win streak and she equalled the track record of Westward Angels in the process.

To view the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Manitoba, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.

(Standardbred Canada)