Despite going into Monday’s $8,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 at The Raceway at Western Fair District with sharp form, SR Beach Babe was overlooked by many in her quest to keep the ball rolling.
And that’s exactly what she did while posting a 12-1 upset for driver Colin Kelly and trainer Jim Ellis.
Kelly got away sixth with SR Beach Babe while the early lead belonged to Landry Seelster. That front-stepping foe cruised through fractions of :28.3 and :57.2 before being challenged by Sirius Star.
It was that foe who showed a short lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. SR Beach Babe, however, out-staggered them all to the line by using a :31.1 closing quarter to win by a neck over race favourite Sporty Tori in 1:58.2. Sirius Star was a lapped-on third.
Steven Binkley of Forest, Ont. owns the seven-year-old daughter of Oaks Enforcer-Sand On The Beach who won for the seventh time this season and for the 33rd time in her career. She recently surpassed $200,000 in lifetime earnings.
Hes Got Swagger nabbed top prize in the $8,500 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3 just two races later for the tandem of driver Travis Cullen and trainer Rachel Andrew.
The five-year-old son of Vintage Master-Bubbles Promise was parked while leading past the quarter pole in :28, but he eventually worked his way to the top. He then chopped out middle panels of :58 and 1:26 before using a :29.1 closing quarter to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Brocks Fortune in 1:55.1. Validus Deo was third.
Sent off as the 4-5 choice in the wagering, the gelding improved his 2020 record to 4-4-2 from 20 trips to the track for partners Cullen and Andrew. The 29-time winner has banked close to $150,000 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.