An early give-and-go proved to be the winning move for trotting mare April Duford, who lived up to odds-on billing and posted a 1:57.4 win in the $6,600 Preferred 3 Trot at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday, Aug. 8. 

April Duford was strung out by Forbidden Treasure (Garrett Rooney) on approach to the first turn and overpowered by Spun From Magic (Lorne House) nearing the completion of a :27.3 first quarter. After briefly yielding for the pocket, Robert Doyle angled April Duford back to the outside, and the six-year-old Il Sogno Dream-Cha Cha Slide mare took charge from Spun From Magic with a lap to go before putting her seven foes to sleep through a :59.4 middle half. 

Upon entering the final turn, April Duford faced an intensifying first-over thread from Teasin (Natasha Day), and a :30.2 quarter proved enough for April Duford to prevail by a diminishing three-quarters of a length. Teasin was a comfortable second, 4-3/4 lengths clear of Classy Guy (Andy Moore), who made belated inroads to finish third. 

Ashley Duford trains April Duford, who competes as a homebred for Dennis Duford of Dresden, Ont.

The 25-time winner paid $3.80 to win as the 4-5 public choice. The victory was her fifth of the season in 20 starts.

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

(Standardbred Canada)