The Rookie Vs. Champ Driver Challenge at Rideau Carleton Raceway proved to be a back-and-forth battle in the beginning, but in the end Travis Henry put the pedal to the metal and drove away from Darrell Coville
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Henry, who punched his ticket to the event by capturing the 2010 Coville Cup at Rideau Carleton Raceway, kicked off the card by taking the opener with Kangamangus in 2:02.1. The trotter posted a nose decision over Jedrik Hanover, who was handled by Darrell Coville.
Henry got the better of Coville in Race 4, as well, thanks to a driving off score with My Old Friend John in 1:56. Coville grabbed the runner-up spot, again, with Awestreos. Coville, however, showed no mercy to rivals in Race 5 thanks to a five-length score with Art I Special (1:57.2). Henry had to settle for third prize with Long Tall Western.
Henry clicked with Wallace Hanover in Race 6 in a time of 2:00.1, and once again Coville completed the Exactor ticket thanks to his second-place finish with Revenator. Coville rolled to a 7-1/4 length triumph in Race 6 with Its A Good Thing in 1:55.3, and in doing so he closed to within one win of Henry at the mid-way point of the program.
Henry was second-placed-first with Blue Ribbon Beauty (2:02.1) in Race 9, and the young reinsman was right back to victory lane in Race 10 with Peenie (1:55.2), who rallied to an easy tally in the $14,000 Preferred Pace. Jiffy Lee (1:59.1), who was one of four winners sent out by trainer Jamie Copley, drew off to win by 3-3/4 lengths in Race 13 to give Henry his sixth winner on the card.
In the end, the score was Henry 6 – Coville 2 in the Rookie Vs. Champ Driver Challenge.
All proceeds from the 15-race bout supported the Christina Polifroni Scholarship Fund. Each year the NCRHHA awards children of local horsepeople with scholarship money in honour of the late Christina Polifroni, who died tragically while vacationing in Mexico.
To view Sunday’s results, click here.