Paul MacDonell had to call an audible with Define The World after getting stung while making a bid for the lead, but in the end the classy gelding got the last laugh en route to an impressive score in Monday’s $38,000 Preferred Trot at Woodbine Racetrack.
Define The World blasted out as hard as he could from post six, but Watkins (Doug McNair) refused to take a backseat to that foe. The early confrontation resulted in Watkins forcing Define The World into the two-hole a hole while he steamrolled through an opening panel of :26.4. Those two held their positions at the mid-way point in :56.4, but race favourite Star Ruffnready (Scott Zeron) popped out of the three-hole and started to apply pressure on the leader.
Watkins was hounded by Star Ruffnready to the three-quarter pole in 1:25.3, but Star Ruffnready’s bid was a brief one. The favourite leveled off coming into the lane, and that allowed Watkins to kick clear by 2-1/4 lengths with an eighth of a mile to go. MacDonell re-emerged from the pocket with Define The World, and after steady urging the gelding kicked home in :28.1 to win by a head over Watkins in 1:54.1. Third prize went to a rallying Zeus Lightning.
John Bax trains the eight-year-old son of Duke Of York-Venice Holiday, who pulled off the 5-1 upset for owner/breeder Al Libfeld of Pickering, ON. It was the veteran’s 37th lifetime triumph, and the lion’s share of the purse bumped his overall earnings to $1,698,339.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Woodbine Racetrack.