Arizona blew away the boys in the Preferred feature on Sunday afternoon at Leamington Raceway, winning in track record time.
In the $4,500 Preferred 4 Handicap Pace, Arizona followed in third behind first-half fractions of :27.3 and :57.1 before driver Nick Steward sent the 6-5 favourite on her way turning into the backstretch. Arizona rushed to the lead by three-quarters in 1:25.3 and kept on going, opening up eight lengths through the lane for the 1:54.4 victory. The rest of the field spread five-across the track in the race for place, with Its Eds Idea edging out William Ross for the runner-up honours.
A four-year-old daughter of Up The Credit, Arizona lowered her own track record for pacing mares set on Sept. 10, returning for just her second start at the Leamington half-miler to knock one second and two-fifths from the mark. She also equalled the Leamington record for aged pacers set by gelding Beaverbreek Artist in September 2018 and came within four-fifths of three-year-old Crazy World's overall track record.
Mike Timpano trains Arizona, who has made 13 winner's circle appearances this year while earning $76,610 from 24 starts. Unraced as a two-year-old, the photogenic mare has put together a career record reading 17-6-1 from 35 races and has banked more than $100,000 for owners Wendy Warren Timpano of Campbellville, Ont. and Herman Bardoel of Ingersoll, Ont.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.