Ginger Tree Finny, making his Manitoba debut, was untouchable in the $5,200 Horses and Geldings Open Pace as harness racing returned to Miami Fair on Saturday, July 19.

The gelding took the lead at the quarter in :29.1 for Michel Rey, strolled to the half in :59.4, and let loose in the third panel, racing clear by four lengths by three-quarters in 1:28.3. He kept the gas pedal down, extending his lead into the stretch, and cruised home a winner by five lengths in 2:00.1. Appoggiatura (Clayton Braybrook) finished second over Seek And Destroy (Paula Mason).

Ginger Tree Finny, trained by Melanie Rey Clark, make his 100th start a winning one, improving his career totals to 16 victories and $135,078 in earnings. The seven-year-old son of Captaintreacherous-Ideal Weather shipped in from Ontario for owner Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener, Ont. He paid $2.80 to win.

Nonversation, driven by Richard Remillard, upset at 6-1 with a late-closing victory in the $5,000 Fillies and Mares Open Pace. Odds-on favourite Outlaw Spiced Rum (Michel Rey) set the tempo with :28.1, :58.3, and 1:28.3 splits. Outlaw Spiced Rum was overtaken by pocket-sitter Hurry Home (Darryl Mason) in deep-stretch, but Nonversation kicked home from fourth and got up by a half-length to score in 2:00.3. Hurry Home finished second, followed by Controlthedistance (Paula Mason).

Nonversation notched her 15th win in 67 lifetime outings and improved her bankroll to $93,517. Tara Isman trains the five-year-old Mystician-Say Anything mare and co-owns her with Jim Wilson of Regina, Sask. and Remillard of Westbourne, Man.

Miami Fair will host another card on Saturday, July 26 before Manitoba racing shifts to The Loop on Saturday, August 2.

To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Miami Fair.

(Standardbred Canada)