The Shepherd brothers stole the show amidst a winter wonderland at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Friday night (January 5) with snow squalls and temperatures dropping 18 degrees below zero.
Driver Robert Shepherd and trainer Patrick Shepherd accounted for wins in six of the evening's 10 races.
Robert drove three winners, including Emerald Rihanna in the featured $8,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace.
Emerald Rihanna quickly assumed command of the field, which was scratched down to six starters, and led the way through opening panels of :31 and 1:02.4 before being confronted by Ginger down the backstretch on the way to three-quarters in 1:33. Turning for home, her rivals began to fan out for the stretch drive, but Emerald Rihanna kept them at bay to score her 20th career victory. She held off 9-5 favourite Release The Magic by three-quarters of a length in 2:03.2 over the snowy track with Ginger finishing third.
Sent postward as the 3-1 third choice on the toteboard, Emerald Rihanna paid $8.90 to win.
Robert drove the nine-year-old Lis Mara mare in her season's debut for trainer and owner Colonel Schneider Jr.
Robert also drove 11-year-old trotter Elmo Rockbottom ($11.70) to victory for his younger brother Patrick, who ended the night with four training wins. Little Macabee ($3.50, Scott Coulter) and Go Mud ($21.80, Bob McClure) preceded the brothers' successful pairing and Can Art ($4.50, McClure) gave Patrick the grand slam. McClure, Canada's 2017 win leader, was also a four-time winner on the program.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.