It Takes Two collared 7-5 favourite Saulsbrook Litten on the line in the $11,000 Preferred Pace on Friday, Jan. 16 at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
With Samuel Fillion picking up the catch-drive in the ninth race feature, 2-1 shot It Takes Two followed the bettors' choice through panels of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:28.2 before launching from the pocket in the stretch as the outer-tier challenger faded out of contention. Gaining with every stride as the wire approached, It Takes Two prevailed by a neck over Saulsbrook Litten (Brady Galliers) in 1:58 flat over the track rated "good" with a one second variant. Cheddar Bay (J Harris) closed outside for third place.
It Takes Two has now taken two winning trips around the London, Ont. oval this year for trainer Scott McNiven and owners Kimberley McNiven of Putnam, Ont., and Bradley Douglas of Ingersoll, Ont. A homebred six-year-old gelding by Artspeak out of the former London Preferred competitor Shellace, It Takes Two now has 29 career wins and $232,936 in total earnings.
Sent postward as the second choice, It Takes Two paid $6.90 to win in the six-horse field that had a pair of scratches. He kicked off a $90.60 late Daily Double dominated by Fillion, who also drove the Ben Hollingsworth-trained pacer Lord Anthony ($14.60) in the finale.
It Takes Two was the Scott McNiven stable's second winning starter on the 10-race card, two races after pacing gelding Pebble Beach Pro ($3) earned his first victory of the season with Garrett Rooney in the driver's seat.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)