It was a tale of two Preferreds on Tuesday (April 29) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District as Royalty Beer delivered a front-end score as the even-money favourite in the $12,000 Preferred Trot, while Sportsline followed it up with a 10-1 pocket-rocket in the $12,000 Preferred Pace. 

After a thundershower moved through prior to the third race leading to a delay for track maintenance, the two features closed the 10-race card with the trotters taking the spotlight first on a track rated good.

Samuel Fillion had the call on Royalty Beer and wasted little time getting to the lead and grabbing command from post six through an opening quarter of :28.1. Royalty Beer remained in control of the field of seven through a half of :58.2 before beginning to open up on the way to three-quarters in 1:27.4 while Treasured Tee (Austin Sorrie) raced to the inside of Marvin Hagler (Brett MacDonald) in second.

Royalty Beer continued to open up, turning for home four lengths clear at the top of the lane. Geared down in the lane, Royalty Beer coasted home a winner in 1:58.4 while Mercutio rallied late to finish second, three parts of a length behind the winner. Marvin Hagler finished third after his sustained first-over bid.

The Ecuries Maguire Inc homebred six-year-old gelded son of Royalty For Life-Beer Maggs is co-owned by trainer Jean-Francois Maguire. A winner in seven of 12 on the year, Royalty Beer is a 25-time career winner and sports lifetime earnings of $378,987.

Immediately following in the finale, Sportline (pictured above) delivered a 10-1 upset to take the featured pace.

Leaving from post six, Sorrie left aggressively with Sportsline before settling in the pocket on the backstretch behind a revved up It Takes Two (Lorne House) to a quarter of :27.4. 4-5 favourite Docsphillycheese (Garrett Rooney) pulled first-over from third, quickly racing alongside the leader through a half of :58.1. It Takes Two and Docsphillycheese continued to battle to the three-quarter station in 1:27.1 with Sportsline pinned-in entering the final turn. 

Docsphillycheese began to retreat on the final turn, leaving Sportsline enough room to squeeze out of the pocket turning for home. Pacing home in :29, Sportsline powered alongside It Takes Two before crossing the line three parts of a length in front to stop the timer in 1:56.2. LA Sun Control (Tyler Borth) used a three-wide rally on the final turn to finish in third.

Patrick Bissett trains Sportsline for owner Craig Parrott. The nine-year-old son of Sportswriter-Angel N Disguise has won three of 13 in 2025, while boasting a career bankroll of $334,486.

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

(Standardbred Canada)