Turcottes Sweep Sudbury Preferreds
Drivers Richard Turcotte and Justin Turcotte prevailed in their respective Preferred assignments on snowy Saturday at Sudbury Downs.
In the $12,500 Not Listed Preferred Trot, Richard Turcotte guided Speedy Desperado to victory in 2:02.1 for trainer Don Wilcox and owner Margaret Wilcox of Midland, Ont.
The eight-year-old gelded son of Wesgate Crown sat in seventh as Rebar Man (Wayne MacLean) set the tempo with fractions of :30.1, 1:01.1 and 1:32.2. Speedy Desperado, a 30-1 longshot, kicked into action in the stretch using a :28.4 final effort to win by a neck.
Check Le Look (David Dowling) came on for second forcing the pacesetter to settle for third.
Speedy Desperado scored his ninth career win pushing his earnings to $77,282.
In the $12,500 Not Listed Preferred Pace, Justin Turcotte sat behind his pupil, Gems Greek, for the win in 1:58.1.
The five-year-old gelded son of Astreos left from the inside post and carved out fractions of :29.2, :59.3 and 1:29.2 while Thomson Seelster (Gerry Belanger) applied first-over pressure. Gems Greek shook off his challenger and used a :28.4 final quarter to prevail by a length.
Seawind Gambler (Allan Hohner) rode the pocket to finish second. Thomson Seelster was third.
Justin Turcotte owns the winner of 23 races and $137,133 in purses with Joe Ruppel of Listowel, Ont.
Both Turcottes scored a driving double on the card.
In other sweeping action, trainer David Dowling sat in the bike for three wins on tonight’s 13-race card. His pupils triumphed by a combined 29 lengths.
Myth Buster scored a seven-length victory in Race 2 (2:00.4), Owhatabeachbum prevailed by four lengths in Race 7 (1:59) and Robert D romped to an 18 length score in Race 12 (2:03.3).
The resident of Chelmsford, Ont. has recorded 29 wins this year with earnings totaling over $125,000. In his career, Dowling has trained 202 winners bringing in over $1.2 million in purses.
To view Saturday’s results, click here.