Monster In Law and Long Ago played the role of the spoiler in the $13,500 Preferred events on Monday at Western Fair Raceway, which played host to a variety of Preferred events over the course of the 12-race program
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Alfie Carroll sent Monster In Law to the front in the Preferred Pace, and the five-year-old son of Northern Luck proved to be untouchable for co-owner/trainer Don Beatson. Sent off at 6-1, the gelding sliced out splits of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:26 before punching home in :28.4 for the 1:54.4. score. Runner-up Compass Connections, who was sent off as the 4-5 choice, was two lengths in arrears with Bigmizndrstnding rounding out the top three.
Beatson shares ownership on the 13-time winner with Kenneth Beatson of Toronto and Sandra and Ralph Pitt of Cargill, ON. The victory pushed the pacer’s overall bankroll to $172,734.
In the $13,500 Preferred Trot Long Ago survived a first-over trip to win as a 10-1 outside in 2:00.2 for driver Dan Clemmer and co-owner/trainer John Holding. The five-year-old son of Duke Of York held on to win by a half-length margin over runner-up Dashing Earl. Nobananas grabbed the show dough.
Holding shares ownership on the gelding with partner Bryan Montgomery of Fergus, ON. The victory was the second of the season and the ninth lifetime tally for the OSS graduate who upped his lifetime earnings to $117,599.
Paul MacKenzie worked out a perfect second-over trip for Michelles Idea in the $11,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace, and the five-year-old Western Hanover miss had no problem cashing it in for the 1:57.2 win. She tracked down the first-over prompter, Iseerightthrough U, who finished second and Stonebridge Celest who rallied for a third-place finish.
Ian Reid trains the mare for Guelph, Ontario partners James Smith and Island Heat Stable Inc. It was her second win of the season in three trips postward, and the lion’s share of the purse bumped the 12-time winner’s overall earnings to $177,771.
The Kim Bakker-trained Pacific Prince made a successful jump to the $10,000 Preferred-2 Pace class on Monday, and in doing so extended his win streak to two-in-a-row for London, Ontario partners Martin O’Toole and Thomas Lawson. Nick Steward rallied the gelding to the 1:59 triumph over Button Up and Kountry Luck.
The seven-year-old son of Northern Luck won for the 20th time in his career while pushing his cash stash to $166,625 in the process.
After lacking staying power one week ago, Risky Rich returned with much more stamina in the second split of the $10,000 Preferred-2 for pacers. The six-year-old son of Camluck and driver Doug McNair led at every call en route to the 1:55.4 score over Beach Boy Toy and Sharon The Moment.
Trainer Kris Di Cenzo co-owns the gelding with John Baldasty of Hamilton, ON, and together they watched the 16-time winner boost his bankroll to $143,661 with the win.
To view Monday’s results, click here.