Pulling off a 20-1 upset, Winzel prevailed by a nose over Thundering Ovation in the $11,000 Preferred 2 Handicap Trot on Wednesday evening's harness racing card at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
Driven by Nick Steward, the 10-year-old Royal Strength gelding earned his 40th career win in 2:01.3 while the pacesetting mare had to settle for second-place honours after winning her last two starts at the Preferred 3 level.
Thundering Ovation led the field of eight through fractions of :29.2, 1:01 and 1:30.4 over an off track before Winzel rallied off the cover of Tornado Tim and got up in the final stride to steal the glory. House Of Cash finished nearly four lengths behind in third.
Winzel is trained by Brittany Kennedy and co-owned by Janet Fairall of Windsor, Ont. and Nancy and Jack Holmes of Clinton, Ont. His first win of the year pushed his career bankroll to $247,735. He paid $42.70 to win.
Somethinincredible ($6.30) earned her third straight triumph in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Pace by closing off the cover of Zip Car to defeat that rival by a quarter-length in 2:00. Rubber Belly finished over two lengths back in third. Trainer Bob McIntosh co-owns the homebred five-year-old Ponder mare (as Robert McIntosh Stables Inc.) along with Ohio's C S X Stables and Dave Boyle of Bowmanville, Ont.
The win was also the third in a row (and fourth overall on the 11-race card) for driver Scott Coulter, who began his natural hat trick when favourite Lily Pad Hanover ($4.50) shook loose late in an action-packed $7,400 Preferred 3 Trot. That five-year-old Kadabra mare won by a neck over Random Margin in 2:03.1 for trainer Barry Treen and owners Jeffrey and Debbie Elchuk of Surrey, B.C. Moonbeam Hall finished third, one length behind.
It was another close call in the $7,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace as second-tier starter Royal Cover Up ($12.10) upset the favourites at odds of 12-1 with Ryan Holliday working out the winning second over trip. Trained by Brian Hodgson and owned by Donald Hodgson of Dorchester, Ont., the seven-year-old Royal Mattjesty mare crossed the wire in 2:01.3 a neck ahead of Topanga Canyon, but the runner-up was placed back to sixth for a pylon violation while closing up the inside. Pacesetter Mother Hen and first over challenger Insincerity inherited second and third-place.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair.