The Middlesex County Series kicked off on Friday night at Western Fair Raceway and the opening leg filled up the London, Ont. track's 14-race card with $8,000 trotting and pacing divisions
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The popular Modern Legend ($3.40) turned in the fastest mile of the night with a wire-to-wire romp over his fellow male pacers in 1:55 for driver Trevor Henry, a three-time winner on the night, and trainer Dave Drew. The three-year-old son of Modern Art-Ruby Cam held off the pocket-pulling Lyons Johnny by half a length while the rest of the field trailed over 23 lengths behind.
Coming off a career-best 1:53 victory over a sloppy track at Mohawk Racetrack on Sept. 19, the homebred gelding recorded his third win in career six outings for Dave Drew Associates Inc. of St. Catharines, Ont. The lion's share of the purse pushed his earnings $19,235 for his debut season.
Also winning their divisions for male pacers were: Machs Fortune in 1:59.3 for driver Bruce Richardson and trainer Kathryn Jewell; streaker Razor Sharp in 1:58.1 for driver Aaron Byron and trainer Ryan Maxwell (four wins in a row); and Kesons Reign in 1:57 for driver Jonathan Drury and trainer Mike Bishop.
The winning pacing fillies were: Mach Raiser in 1:59 for driver Robert Shepherd and trainer Sean MacSwain; the maiden-breaking Designer in 2:00.3 for driver Stuart Sowerby and trainer Brian Felice; Tips Girl in 1:59.1 for driver Alex Lilley and trainer Paul Mairs; and D Js Sister in 2:00 for driver Trevor Henry and trainer Paul Taylor.
The top male trotters of the night were: the consistent Indian Lake in 2:04 for driver Trevor Henry and trainer Graham Burgess (now seven-for-10 in his career); Schrader Hanover in 2:04.3 for driver-trainer William Borth; Barbells in 2:04.4 for driver-trainer Todd Ratchford; and streaker Zip The Lip in 2:01.1 for driver Paul MacKenzie and trainer Jennifer Rankin (three wins in a row).
The winning trotting fillies were: the lightly raced Amoreena in 2:03.1 for driver Robert Shepherd and trainer Roy Jeffries (now two-for-three in her career); and the maiden-breaking Waltsa Seelster in 2:03 for driver Ross Battin and trainer Paul Ruhl.
The series, for Ontario-sired four-year-olds and younger that are non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of midnight September 1, 2011, will continue next Friday, October 28 with the finals slated for Saturday, November 5.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.