April Duford won her third consecutive $5,200 Preferred 3 Handicap Trot at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday, June 21, this time charging first-up for an impressive victory.

Saddled with the outside post eight, the mare floated out for Robert Doyle and found a seat third while Essential Worker (Andy Moore) fired through the opening quarter in :27.3, building a four-length lead before coming back to the field in the second panel. April Duford mobilized at the half in :58.3 and began marching towards the leader as the field raced through the second turn.

April Duford gained steadily down the backstretch and struck the front just past three-quarters in 1:27.4 but was unable to clear the resilient Essential Worker. The latter battled into the lane, but April Duford put her away in mid-stretch and cruised home to a 1:58 victory by 1-1/2 lengths over the closing Muscle Up The Gold (Scott Wray). Riversdream (Nat Day) surged late and crossed the line simultaneously with Dark Hammock Road (Lorne House) in a dead heat for show. The winner returned $2.90.

April Duford, a daughter of Il Sogno Dream-Cha Cha Slide, is three-for-three at the Sarnia oval this season and has won eight of 20 overall on the year. The five-year-old mare, trained by Ashley Duford for owner/breeder Dennis Duford of Dresden, Ont., has compiled 18 wins and $117,341 in earnings in 77 career starts.

To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Hiawatha Horse Park.

(Standardbred Canada)