The Raceway at the Western Fair District hosted three divisions of the first leg of the Autumn Series for two- and three-year-old colts and geldings on Tuesday evening (Oct. 11) and each race was a gate-to-wire victory.
In the first $8,500 division, Dows Up (Dan Clements) followed through as the bettors' choice as he controlled the pace through fractions of :28, :58.4 and 1:28 to a 1:57.2 finish. Dows Up earned his fourth consecutive victory, edging Inked In Pink (Scott Wray) out of what would have been his fifth consecutive victory, by a quarter of a length. Thersomthinggoinon (Beau Brown) finished in third to complete the ticket.
Lindsey Kerr trains the Shadow Play colt out of the Badlands Hanover mare So Whats Up for owners Sally Charlton, David Deighton and Sergio Vespa. The victory is a new lifetime best for the four-for-four Dows Up (pictured above). He has accumulated $13,900 in earnings as a freshman.
Hes Sporty (Colin Kelly) collected his triumph, leading through fractions of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30 to a four-length victory in 1:58.1. Mason Street (Austin Sorrie) finished second and Liberty Royal (Travis Henry) third.
Trainer Jim Flynn co-owns the gelding with Doreen Flynn out of Mitchell, Ont. After only one start in his freshman year, Hes Sporty has had a successful first month of racing as a sophomore with a record of 2-2-0 in four starts and $11,125 earned. Hes Sporty is by Sportswriter and out of the Camluck mare Undone Hanover.
Driver Scott Coulter sent the Shawn Steacy trainee, Shanghai James, out of the gate and to the front in the third division. Controlling the timer through splits of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:28, the duo used a :30.1 last quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:58.1. Dream With Me (Colin Kelly) finished second and Iconic Seelster (Jason Ryan) rounded out the triactor.
Shanghai James now has a record of 1-1-0 in three starts with $6,125 earned. The Shanghai Phil-Spade Seelster gelding is owned by Hudson Standrdbrd Stb Inc out of Hudson, Que.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair.