Western Fair Raceway hosted a full 12-race card of Middlesex County Series action on Friday night in London, Ont.
The series, featuring first leg divisions worth $7,500, is for four-year-old and younger Ontario sired pacers and trotters that are non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of midnight September 1, 2010.
Five divisions of the Middlesex County Pacing Series for fillies and mares went to Ella V Horse, Amanda Star, Astrmowin, Charmbo Lucky and Casimir Justajogin.
Three-year-old Royal Mattjesty-Kwanzaa daughter Ella V Horse was a wire-to-wire winner in 1:58 for driver Alex Lilley and trainer-owner Fred Drouillard. Capris In Motion (Stuart Sowerby) finished one and a quarter length behind and Firstline Precious (Trevor Henry) rounded out the top three.
Amanda Star, driven by Doug McNair, kicked away from first over challenger Sassy Gal (Trevor Henry) in the stretch for a five-length victory in 1:59.1. The three-year-old daughter of Rustler Hanover-Amandajillkillean, who is trained by Richard Moreau for owner-breeder Ecurie Gaetan Bono Inc. of Montreal, Que., bested 45-1 longshot Camms Jamboree (Brad Moore) and Slumber Land (Stuart Sowerby).
The Bruce Goit-trained Astrmowin kept her record perfect as she and driver James MacDonald advanced first up to prevail over pacesetter Glowing Killean (Mike Whelan) by more than two lengths in 1:58.1. Kennairn Cam Go (Bruce Richardson) was third. The three-year-old Astreos-Waasmowin filly, who is four-for-four in her career after sweeping Kawartha Downs’ Bride To Be Pacing Series, is owned by Bonnie Goit of Waterford, Ont.
The pocket-sitting Charmbo Lucky benefitted off front-runner Lady Sand Terror’s late break in stride to win her division in 1:58.2 for teamster Stuart Sowerby and trainer-owner John Rier. The homebred three-year-old daughter of Camluck-Pretty Bo finished over two lengths ahead of Lady Sand Terror (Trevor Henry) and Casimir Indy (Brad Harris).
The Casimir Stables’ homebred Casimir Justajogin cleared the lead after the opening quarter and cruised to victory in 2:00, pulling off an 11-1 upset in the final division with Brad Harris in the bike. Favourite Village Silence (Doug McNair) finished over a length behind in second with Grit Lady (Alex Lilley) third. Terry McKibbin trains the winning daughter of Sir Luck-Running Legal.
L H Lil Count, Loverboynik, Warners Speedy Art and Kendal Fresco all captured their respective Middlesex County Pacing Series divisions for colts and geldings.
Driven by Doug McNair, Loverboynik and driver Dave Wall went all the way to win the next split in 1:58 for trainer Bryce Fenn. Owned and bred by Pompano Beach, Flordia resident Souren Hovsepian, the three-year-old Camluck-Broadway Hackett gelding defeated Allen The Optomist (Stuart Sowerby) by one and a quarter lengths. Spare Time Chuckie (Bruce Richardson) inherited third due to a placing.
Warners Speedy Art fired to command under the guidance of Trevor Henry from Post 7 and led every step of the way en route to an eight-length victory in 1:57.1. Beechwood Wayne (Mike Horner) and Terrorizer (Doug McNair) were second and third. The winning son of Modern Art-Decisive Margin is trained and owned by John Warner.
Driven by Mike Whelan, freshman pacer Kendal Fresco rallied off the cover of favourite Distant Cam (Bruce Richardson) to beat him by a quarter-length in 1:59.2. Pacesetter Lauriesace (Trevor Henry) was third. The Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots competitor, a gelded son of Life Sign-City Of Dreams, is trained by Scott McNiven for owners Kimberley McNiven of Putnam, Shirley Griffin of St. Thomas and James Kirk of Ingersoll, Ont.
The Middlesex County Trotting Series for colts and geldings featured three divisions won by Northen Inferno, Delcrest Mr Joe and Willful.
Northern Inferno maintained a double-digit length lead on the field as he blazed to a 2:01.1 triumph in rein to Bob McClure. The margin of victory was 17 lengths for the four-year-old gelded son of Angus Hall-Flame Tamer. Trainer Michael Kwietniowski shares ownership with Bill Manes of Rockwood and William Cripps of Acton, Ont. Bold Paul (Ross Battin) and Memories Of Us (Doug McNair) rounded out the top three finishers.
Pacesetter Delcrest Mr Joe and driver Paul Davies held off the favoured Biff (Doug McNair) by three-quarters of a length for a 9-1 upset in his division. Trained and owned by Jim Croll, the four-year-old Mr Lavec-Sb Fuchsias Cancan gelding stopped the clock in 2:02.3. Cerrillo (Trevor Henry) finished third.
As the popular Schrader Hanover (Doug McNair) made a costly break in the stretch, Willful rallied from the backfield to prevail in 2:05 for the first time in his career by a half-length. J J Blue (Terry Kerr) was the runner-up and Fiesty Jack (Stuart Sowerby) finished two and a half lengths back in third. Dave Wall drove the three-year-old son of Super Pleasure-Saucy Sibyl for trainer Raymond Steward, who is also a co-owner with Joanne Hickey of Delhi, Ont.
The Middlesex County Trotting Series for fillies and mares will take place on Saturday night along with the Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Championships and eliminations for the Forest City Pace featuring aged pacing mares in action.
The Middlesex County Series will continue next weekend with the $40,000 (added) finals slated for Saturday, November 6 at Western Fair.
To view Friday's results, click here.