Sent the odds-on favourite, Richard Moreau trainee Boomboom Ballykeel won the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace on the Monday, January 8 program at The Raceway at Western Fair District, as he went wire to wire in 1:57.2.
Grabbing control through a :29.3 opening quarter, Boomboom Ballykeel endured minor first-over pressure from Southwind Masimo passing the half, timed in :59.2. Reel, positioned second over, circled by Southwind Masimo through the backstretch, drawing within two lengths of the leader at three-quarters in 1:28. Boomboom Ballykeel turned Reel away into the stretch, facing Sure Please through the stretch as he pounced off a pocket trip, but settling for second three-quarters lengths off the leader at the line. Reel finished third with Its A Big Secret, off a rail trip, in a dead heat.
A seven-year-old stallion by Mach Three out of the Presidential Ball mare Teig N Riley, Boomboom Ballykeel, owned by Ballykeel Racing, won his 30th race in 148 starts, earning $845,406. Driven by Travis Henry, he paid $3.20 to win.
Beach Terror rode cover and lunged to victory late in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace, winning in 1:57.4.
Mister X set the pace, going a :28.1 quarter before being challenged by Bringhome Theblue through the stretch first time. The two matched strides as Beach Terror stalked second over through a :59 half and through three-quarters in 1:27.3 before Mister X expanded his lead to one-and-a-half lengths turning into the stretch. Beach Terror fanned off cover and closed towards the center of the track, getting a neck advantage on Mister X at the line, while Bringhome Theblue held on for third.
Owned by Vince Orlando and Gordon McDonnell, Beach Terror, an eight-year-old gelding by Western Terror out of the Real Desire mare Beachy Girl, won his 24th race in 100 starts, compiling $161,057 in earnings. Trained by Gordon McDonnell and driven by Nicholas Steward, he paid $9.50 to win.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Monday Results - Western Fair Raceway.