Talldarklatte circled the field to prevail in the $11,000 Lakeshore Cup, giving trainer Melissa Loyer her second of three victories on closing day at Leamington Raceway on Sunday, Oct. 25.

Rail starter Remember The Beach (Nick Steward) and Dapper Fella (David Edwards), from post four, launched off the wings to a :27.4 opening panel with Remember The Beach using a give-and-go move to secure the front. Talldarklatte, trailing the five-horse field early, tipped out to take the cover of Write About Now (Donnie Rankin) past a :59 half and followed the tow through three-quarters in 1:28.2 to move within two lengths of the top. Lorne House fed Talldarklatte racetrack as they spun into the stretch, and the mare charged past her cover by a half-length to win in 1:57.4. Dapper Fella split through traffic in the stretch for third.

With the victory in the optional-claiming event, Talldarklatte tallied her fifth win this year in 35 starts. Loyer, of Ottawa, Ont., co-owns the four-year-old daughter of Tall Dark Stranger-Outtathisworld with Victoria Loyer of Gatineau, Que. The mare is now 13-for-67 lifetime and has earned $97,321. The win price was $3.90.

Loyer also won the third race with Snake Eyes Hanover ($3.90) and the meet finale with Lilly Clare ($3). The third-year trainer has 82 wins in her breakout season from 339 starts for a win rate of 24.2 per cent.

Nick Steward captured the driving title at Leamington, finishing with 19 wins while also leading the sulkysitters in earnings with $95,962. Garrett Rooney won a trio on closing day to finish in second on 16 wins, one ahead of Alex Lilley.

Cameron McQueen completed a threepeat in the trainers’ standings as he racked up 16 victories over the course of the meet, leading second-placed Michael Stamp by seven. Loyer’s triple pushed her total to six, creating a dead heat for show with Keith Cullen. McQueen’s $70,734 in meet earnings also led the conditioners.

To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)