A set of $14,00 Preferred tilts highlighted Monday’s 12-race card at Western Fair Raceway, and driver Doug McNair swept both of them
. In fact, all he did was win races.
Flora Dream cleared to the lead as the field moved in front of the grandstand, and once she was in command of the tempo refused to give way to anyone in the final half of the mile. The seven-year-old daughter of Taurus Dream was a comfortable winner by a one-length margin over race favourite Indiana Hall in 1:58.4. Suzys Solitaire rallied to take home the show dough.
Sent off at 4-1 in the wagering, the Dave Menary trainee won for the 23rd time in her career while pushing her lifetime earnings to $311,628 in the process. She put together an impressive 9-for-29 record in 2010 for the partnership of Leo Tourigny of Becancour, QC and Lapharmaciedekedgwick Inc of Kedgwick, NB.
Secret Weapon, who was next-to-last at the quarter pole, used his patented closing kick to haul home bragging rights in this week’s Preferred Pace. The Guelph, ON reinsman guided the heavily favoured gelding to the 1:56.2 tally, with pacesetter Bob Watts finishing three-quarters of a length in arrears. Shadywood Baron closed well to finish third.
Wayne Preszcator trains the nine-year-old son of Western Hanover for the Secret Weapon Stables of Waterloo, ON. The victory was the 37th lifetime triumph for the career winner of $460,960.
McNair celebrated four other victories on the card, and that brought his daily win total to six. McNair, who became the youngest driver in the history of harness racing to reach the 1,000-win plateau, begins the 2011 season after putting up personal best totals for wins (518) and earnings ($4,814,367) in 2010.
To view Monday’s results, click here.