Rolling first over, Top Royal slid to a 1:56.3 victory in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Handicap Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Tuesday (Jan. 21).
The Joy Luck Club led the field past the quarter in :28.1 while Top Royal raced from sixth. Driver J Harris soon tipped the seven-year-old Royal Mattjesty mare first over and ranged towards the leader through a :58.2 half and stuck a head in front nearing three-quarters in 1:26.4. The Joy Luck Club retook control briefly around the final turn but faltered in the stretch as Top Royal extended to a length-and-a-half lead at the finish. Tilikum followed cover to finish second while The Joy Luck Club settled for third.
Owned by Brydown Farms Inc., Top Royal won her 29th race from 132 starts, earning $239,269. Randy Henry conditions the $9.40 winner.
Casino Classic cleared command early and wired her competition in the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace.
Driver Scott Young secured the front before a :28.2 first quarter while Cayo Loco mounted a first over bid moving to a :59 half. Cayo Loco then stalled up the backside and faltered past three-quarters in 1:28, leaving Casino Classic on a loose lead into the stretch. The six-year-old Classic Card Shark mare cruised to a one-and-a-half length victory in 1:58.1 over pocket-sitter Alphabet Queen with New Billionaire taking third.
Co-owned by trainer Richard Manders with Keith Manders, Casino Classic won her 22nd race from 90 starts, earning $168,898. She paid $3.90 to win.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.