A three-horse battle was brewing in deep stretch in Tuesday’s featured $11,000 Horses & Geldings Preferred 2 event at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and when the dust settled it was Champagne Phil who came out on top.
Champagne Phil tracked cover for driver James MacDonald before rolling out wide in the lane and posting the narrow victory in 1:56. Emerald Lexus shot to the lead and had the field chasing him through fractions of :27.3, :57 and 1:25.4. Race favourite Twin B Impressive did the first-over work while Champagne Phil tracked from second over. MacDonald pulled the trigger on his charge going to the three-quarter pole, and Champagne Phil’s :29.3 closing quarter earned him the neck decision over Emerald Lexus. Twin B Impressive had to settle for the show dough.
Dean Nixon trains the five-year-old son of Shanghai Phil-Champagne Gal for ICR Racing of Pefferlaw, Ontario. The gelding won for the first time this season and for the 14th time in his career. His share of Monday’s loot lifted his lifetime earnings to $208,383.
Keaton captured the $7,000 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3 for the tandem of driver Trevor Henry and trainer/owner George Robinson of Windsor, Ontario. The eight-year-old son of Artesian-Twin Turbo was last at the half, but he powered up late and used a :28.4 closing quarter to win by three-quarters of a length over For A Bettor Time in 1:59.3. Bestofthebunch rounded out the top three finishers.
Sent off as the 3-2 favourite, Keaton chalked up his third win of the year and the 29th of his career. The $3,500 payday bumped his overall bankroll to $112,924.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.