Stepping up in class to the Preferred level, Herd Immunity fought off last week's Track On 2 top class winner Sunshine Boy on a mild Sunday afternoon in Lacombe, Alta. on March 22.

With the inside post advantage, Herd Immunity and trainer/driver Nathan Sobey secured the lead in the $6,000 Preferred Pace, pocketing Rum N Custard (Kelly Hoerdt), with last week's winner Sunshine Boy (Phil Giesbrecht) three-wide in the mix early before tucking into third. After opening splits of :28.1 and :57.3, Sunshine Boy made his move and swept up to challenge Herd Immunity, but the newcomer kept him at bay as they raced by three-quarters in 1:25.4 and drew clear on top through the stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.2. Herd Immunity paid $4.70 to win as the slight 6-5 favourite while 8-5 second choice Sunshine Boy settled for second this time out. Key Dragon (Chris Brown) edged out Rum N Custard in a show photo.

After moving to the Sobey stable off a seven-week layoff for owner Dr. Fred Kruszelnicki of Brooks, Alta., Herd Immunity prepped for his successful Preferred debut with an impressive 1:55.3 tour of The Track On 2 last week when the track was rated 'good.' The seven-year-old Rockin Image-Cam Swifty gelding now has 10 career wins and earnings of $66,895.

Leading trainer Rebecca Kanak's stable remained red-hot after sending out three winners on Saturday at the mile oval with three more on Sunday's eight-race card, including the streaking Disco Dancer ($3.10). 

Driven by Mike Hennessy, the four-year-old Captain Deo-Wedding Dance gelding earned his fifth win in a row with a 1:56.4 season's best effort in a $3,800 conditioned claiming pace, prevailing off cover by a half-length over late leader Matchmakers Pick (Thomas Miller). Disco Dancer has now won seven of his 10 starts and $24,688 in Kanak's stable since being claimed for $15,000 last Halloween at Century Mile by owners Trevor Williams of Landmark, Man., Garett Isman of Calgary, Alta., and Harness The Energy Inc. of Water Valley, Alta.

Kanak also swept the late Daily Double ($8.60) in dominant fashion with nine-year-old pacing Blue Powder (Mike Hennessy) and five-year-old pacing mare Frostfire (Drew Campbell) winning by a combined 20-3/4 lengths. Williams shares ownership of the former with Aurel Vodon of Virden, Man., and the latter with Brock MacLellan of Fort McMurray, Alta.

The Track On 2's spring meet wraps up next weekend with 1:10 p.m. MDT cards scheduled for Saturday and Sunday.

To view Sunday's complete harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - The Track On 2.

(Standardbred Canada)