Murphys Ideal Wins Mares Preferred
The Raceway at the Western Fair District's leading driver Alfie Carroll, completed a grand slam on Wednesday night as he steered the class climbing Murphys Ideal to victory lane in the co-featured $7,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace.
Stepping up off a victory in the $7,500 claiming class, Murphys Ideal ($6.20) was a wire-to-wire winner in 2:00.4 over the "good" track for trainer Gord McDonnell, who also shares ownership of the seven-year-old mare with Vince Orlando and Steve John of Leamington, Ont. Island View (Bob McClure) came on for second, edging out pocket-sitter Royal Cover Up (Ryan Holliday) two and a half lengths behind the winner. The 6-5 favourite, Twilight Seelster (Anthony MacDonald), couldn't sustain her first over bid and finished fifth.
Murphys Ideal, a daughter of American Ideal, earned her 31st career win.
In the co-featured Preferred 3 Trot, Osprey Vision crossed over to command from post seven and kept first over challenger Lexus Hawkeye at bay en route to a mild 7-1 upset victory for driver/owner Dave Boughton.
Lexus Hawkeye (Scott Wray) came within a nose of the front-stepper at the third quarter mark and then broke stride as Osprey Vision trotted on home for the two and a half length victory in 2:02.4. The 4-5 favourite, Erin Hall (Travis Henry), followed from the two-hole while Two Doors Down (Nick Steward) came on for third.
The win was Osprey Vision's second in his last three starts and 13th overall. Don Lindsey trains the six-year-old Ken Warkentin gelding.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.