A five-pack of Preferred events gave Western Fair Raceway’s fans plenty of reasons to tune in to its 12-race card
on Monday.
And as is the case the majority of the time on the half-mile oval, front-end speed reigned supreme.
Some of the longshot players liked what they saw in the $16,000 Preferred Pace when Secret Weapon erupted for an 11-1 upset for the tandem of driver Doug McNair and trainer Wayne Preszcator. The seven-year-old son of Towners Big Guy got up to win by a neck over Rudy Valentino in 1:55.1 despite being parked every step of the mile. Third prize went to Button Up.
It was the 26th lifetime tally for the gelding, who is owned by Barbara Lehman, Robert Patterson and James Lehman. He has banked $333,205 to date.
The lethal team of driver Brad Forward and trainer Chris Haskell visited the winner’s circle in the $16,000 Preferred Trot thanks to a gate-to-score with Upsidedown. The 10-year-old son of Super Star Ranger led through panels of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:28.3 before kicking home in 29 seconds for the 1:57.3 decision. It was three lengths back to runner-up last week’s Preferred Trot winner, Trottin Troy. Zorgwijk Fortunate was third.
Cassie Nantais of Windsor, ON holds the papers on the 58-time winner, who has yet to see the trotter finish worse than third in his six starts since being claimed for $10,000. He has stashed away more than $431,000 in his career.
Driver Doug McNair used the same approach to win the $13,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace with Shes A Fan in a time of 1:55.3. The three-year-old daughter of Artiscape rolled through splits of :27.4, :57.4 and 1:26.2 before sprinting home in :29.1 to win as the 4-5 favourite. Gabrielles Girl was next best behind the Carl Jamieson-trained winner, and the show dough was doled out to Sammy Syd.
Jamieson shares ownership on the career winner of $301,396 with partners Tom Kyron, Hope Johnson and George Harrison.
Mac Nichol’s millionaire, Our Lucky Killean, also employed “catch me if you can” tactics to take top prize in the $11,500 Preferred-2 Pace for the team of driver Brad Forward and trainer Casie Coleman. The eight-year-old Camluck warrior hustled through fractions of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:26.3 before coasting home in :30.2 for the 1:56.3 tally. Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the gelding handily defeated P J Lucky and Phil Lucky.
The win was his sixth of the season in 29 trips postward, and it goes down as his 32nd lifetime triumph. His lifetime bankroll now sits at $1,238,105.
Driver Simon Allard guided Redneck Reindeer to a front-stepping score in the $11,500 Preferred-2 Trot, winning by four lengths in a time of 1:59.4. The five-year-old Giant Hit gelding led through splits of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:28.1 before finishing off his foes with a :31.3 final frame. Theshowisfree was second best and third prize went to Twin B Sporty.
Ken Switzer recently took over the training on the 16-time winner, who was claimed for $15,000 on October 4 by owner Isaac Waxman of Dundas, ON. The lion’s share of the purse pushed his lifetime earnings over $200,000.
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click here.