Trevor Williams trainees won four of 10 races at The Loop on Saturday, Sept. 12, including the Kindergarten for two-year-old pacers and the Golden Boy for sophomores of that gait.

Farmers Speed, owned and bred by Williams of Winnipeg, Man., turned a match race into a one-horse show in the back half as he left his sole opponent behind to win the $10,200 Kindergarten. The Resistance Futile-Farmers Rainbow colt lined up inside of Trapper Charlie (Cory Manning), took point quickly, and laid down the fractions of :31, 1:02.2 and 1:34 in line to Marc Fillion. Farmers Speed had gathered a 5-1/4-length advantage by three-quarters, and his :30.3 final panel resulted in a 29-length margin as he came home a 2:04.3 winner.

Farmers Speed has won both of his starts in Manitoba, bringing his record to two-for-seven and his bankroll to $6,750. He paid $2.10 to win.

Justcruiseonbye faced a bigger field in the $7,644 Golden Boy second leg, but he was similarly dominant as Blake Piwniuk steered him to a 16-3/4-length romp. Piwniuk wrestled the Lambretta-Blinkanyoumissit colt into fourth after sitting outside much of the :29.4 quarter, then sent him on an uncovered march past the 1:01.1 half. Justcruiseonbye blew past prior pacesetter Jimmys Rockin (Tyler Grundy) before three-quarters in 1:32.2 and rolled home alone to stop the timer in 2:02.3. Jimmys Rockin held second over Buddys Sneakers (Darryl Mason).

Justcruiseonbye, coming off a place finish in the Manitoba Great Western, won for the fifth time in 12 sophomore starts for owner-trainer Williams. He is now six-for-22 lifetime and has earned $26,233. The win price was $2.20.

Williams and Piwniuk combined again to win the $4,500 Open Handicap Pace with Catch Me Oliver. The gelding circled his four foes uncovered after starting fifth in a :29.2 opening fraction, moving first-up before a 1:00.1 half and grinding into second at the 1:29.4 three-quarters while Take Out Hanover (Darryl Mason) looked to slip away. Catch Me Oliver caught the back of the leader as they rounded for home, and he battled past that opponent by a length for the victory in 2:00. Nonversation (Richard Remillard) was third.

Catch Me Oliver won his second straight Open, improving to three-for-21 on the season. Williams shares ownership in the son of Mystician-Stelle Nel Cielo, now 17-for-76 lifetime with a bankroll of $101,168, with Harness The Energy Inc. of Water Valley, Alta. Win tickets returned $4.30 for $2.

Piwniuk also piloted Williams’ third winner of the day, De La Cruz ($5.60), who remained undefeated in four starts since moving into the trainer’s barn in August with a 2:01.2 score. Williams is six-for-six in the last two cards at The Loop and 31-for-43 — a 72.1 per cent win rate — this year.

Manitoba Great Western champ Gracie Ghost dominated the $7,617 Silk Lace second leg, returning to the winner’s circle for trainer-driver Clayton Braybrook after she was first-placed-fourth in the Futurity last time. After she was hampered on the first turn by a breaking rival, Gracie Ghost used a burst to land on top past the quarter in :30.4. She kept a solid tempo to the half in 1:00, then paced clear to three-quarters in 1:31.4 and cruised home a 9-3/4-length winner in 2:03.4. Libbys Delight (Piwniuk) was second, followed by Peytons Premiere (Michel Rey).

Gracie Ghost has won five of her 12 career starts for owner Alice Gilbert of Brandon, Man. and earned $23,503. The daughter of Mr Rock-Alot Of Sense paid $2.30 to win.

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

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Farmers Speed after winning on Sept. 12)