Samara Johnson took top honours in a women’s driving challenge, which opened the fifth annual Leamington Ladies' Day in support of Harness the Hope on Sunday afternoon (Oct. 17).
Johnson accumulated 29 points throughout the five-race challenge to claim first-place, finishing just ahead of runner-up Marielle Enberg, who ended with 27 points. Natasha Day finished third with 22 points.
After three runner-up finishes, Johnson broke through with a victory in the Harness The Hope Pace as the maiden-breaking two-year-old colt Feisty Like Fire ($9.60) fought off Taylors Credit and Day for trainer/owner Jeff Williamson, who announced that he would be donating his earnings from the fourth race to Harness The Hope.
Johnson took the lead with that victory and maintained the top spot with enough points from a fourth-place finish in the final challenge race, which was won by James Loosemore's Julian I Am ($18.10), giving Enberg her third victory.
Enberg opened the program with a 9-1 upset as the parked out Catherine Gaudreau trainee Shes A Gunslinger ($20) defeated stablemate Blissfullannmarie and Johnson by a neck. Enberg also drove Siboney ($3.70) wire-to-wire for trainer Jim Jarvis.
Pam Forgie also picked up a victory during the challenge aboard Let Me See ($10.50) for owner/trainer Kim Biekx.
Britt Kennedy, Andrea Leon and Julie Walker also participated.
The Lakeshore Horse Racing Association presented Harness The Hope with a $1,500 donation.
Founded by the Dustin family 16 years ago, Harness the Hope raises funds, awareness and supports programs that help those affected by cancer. Proceeds benefit the Breast Cancer Society of Canada and the Pink Pearl Foundation.
"We want to thank everyone for coming out today. The staff and the crew at Leamington have done an amazing job hosting. We're so grateful for all of their efforts," said Harness The Hope co-founder Kristy Dustin. "We are a 100 per cent volunteer-run organization. A lot of our committee members including myself, my mom Doreen, and Chris Manders here, we're all breast cancer survivors so we know the journey that a lot of women and men have to face going through that. So this is our way of helping others who have to face a cancer journey."
In addition to the women’s driving challenge, other Harness The Hope activities held during Sunday’s card included blanket presentations and contests for racing participants and fans.
Tyler Nostadt trainees headlined the back half of the Sunday card, with sophomore gelding Big Teddy ($9.50) romping to a 1:56.4 score in the $5,200 Preferred 4 Handicap Pace with Tyler Borth in the bike and nine-year-old gelding SOS Justified ($2.90) extending his win streak to five with a 1:57.2 front-end effort in rein to Gene Piroski. Both pacers are owned by Blueshoe Investments.
Harness the Hope has hosted its annual events across Ontario racetracks over the past few months and the next stop will be at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Friday, Oct. 22.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.