Sports Duchess won her first career Preferred class on Wednesday, Feb. 19 with a gate-to-wire performance in the $12,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

Sports Duchess and Travis Henry surged from post four in the field of five and nabbed the early lead. The pair dictated the mile through panels in :29.4, 1:00.1 and 1:29.1. Sports Duchess brushed off advances on the outside led by Cheese Party (Damian MacLellan) and strengthened in the stretch to win by 2-3/4 lengths in 1:58.4. Cheese Party finished second and favoured Ladies From Hell (Garrett Rooney) completed the show ticket.

Owned by La Ferme Tag Inc. and trainer Gerard Demers, Sports Duchess is a seven-year-old daughter of Sportswriter and the Western Ideal mare My Ideal. She won her third race from five starts this year, levelling up from the conditions to the featured pace. In 136 career starts, the mare has won 30 races and banked $240,305. At 7-1 odds, she paid $15 to win.

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)