A four-pack of $12,500 Forest City Preview events and the $15,000 RUS Ontario Final gave fans plenty of reasons to take in the Friday evening card of racing at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
T C Sno Massive went gate-to-wire in the Forest City Preview for three-year-old trotting fillies. Bob McClure had her parked and pressing for the lead at the quarter pole in :29.1, and once she cleared to the top she proceeded to chop out middle splits of 1:00 and 1:30.3. A :30.3 closing panel earned her the win by three-quarters of a length over Majestic Mistress in 2:01.1. Third prize was earned by a rallying Its All About Sam.
It was the third consecutive win for the Steve Bossence-trained daughter of Muscle Mass-Sno Doubt About It. The five-time winner, who is owned by Stable Twenty Three Inc of Concord, Ont., pushed her lifetime earnings to $42,984 with the win.
Maxim Seelster made a round trip to victory lane thanks to her 1:57.2 triumph in the Forest City Preview for the three-year-old pacing fillies. The daughter of Big Jim-Mistreos led through fractions of :28.1, :58.2 and 1:27.3 before scooting home in :29.4 to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Dewar N Soda in 1:57.2. Rounding out the top three finishers was Dancin Inthe Nude.
J Harris worked out the winning trip with the Rene Bourassa pupil, who is 6-for-17 this season. The eight-time winner, who is owned by M&S Racing Stable Inc of Rockwood, Ont., pushed her career earnings over $70,000 with the win.
Muscle Ave also used front-stepping tactics to win the $12,500 Forest City Preview for three-year-old trotting colts and geldings. Scott Young hustled her to the lead from Post 1, and together they rolled the field through fractions of :29, :59.2 and 1:29.2 before coasting home in :30.1 to win by 4-3/4 lengths over Gonna Fly in 1:59.3. Defi Normand took home the show dough.
Ben Wallace trains the three-year-old son of Muscle Mass-Third Avenue for his Wallacestandardbreds Inc of Puslinch and Larry Ainsworth of Petrolia, Ont. The victory was his fourth of the year and the seventh of his career. The lion’s share of the loot boosted his bankroll to $66,325.
Daylight Rush also powered to the lead and didn’t look back en route to notching a 1:56.3 tally in the $12,500 Forest City Preview for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Billy Davis, Jr. put the hammer down early with the Blake MacIntosh pupil who slipped through panels of :28.1, :58.4 and 1:28.1 before roaring home in :28.2 to win by a pair of length over Day Trade Hanover in 1:56.3. Mr Mach Jimmy rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
MacIntosh shares ownership on the son of Art Colony-Pass With Caution with Hutt Racing Stable of Paoli, PA. After going winless in nine starts last season, the gelding has racked up a 6-3-6 record from 22 trips to the track this season. He’s closing in on $80,000 in seasonal earnings while his lifetime total swelled to $112,430 with the win.
In the $15,000 RUS Final, Lexis D J blew away the competition in 2:04.4 for the team of rider Stephanie Werder and owner trainer Shane Arsenault of Freelton, Ont.
The nine-year-old son of Amigo Hall-Lexus Lula sat just off the lead for the majority of the mile before making a big move to the lead as the field rolled around the final turn. The gelding’s :31.4 closing quarter earned him the win by 8-1/4 lengths over Massive Muscles. Southwind Alice rounded out the top three finishers.
It was the seventh win of the campaign and the 48th lifetime triumph for graduate of the OSS program. He recently went over $500,000 in lifetime earnings.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.