Smashbox, a three-year-old Mach Three-Sunone filly who has yet to finish off the board in six lifetime starts, earned her third straight win in Friday’s opening round of the Middlesex County Series at Western Fair Raceway
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Smashbox delivered on her pari-mutuel promise in the first and fastest of four $9,000 divisions of the Middlesex County Pacing Series for fillies and mares. The Jim Ainsworth pupil and driver Mike Sumner tucked in behind early leader Greenlight Special (Russell Morgan, Jr.) and was shuffled back to third as Mistreos (Anthony Haughan) battled for the lead through the middle panels. Smashbox then angled out around the turn and sprinted home to win by a length in 2:01 over a track rates 'good'. Mistreos stayed for second and Jodys Charm (Ryan Holliday) finished third. Smashbox’s fourth win in six outings lifted her earnings to $16,374 for owners Larry Ainsworth of Petrolia, the Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga, Ont. and Bill Boden of Vancouver, B.C.
Favourite Aberarder Emsfame went down the road to win the second division in 2:02 by four lengths for teamster Terry Kerr and trainer Dwayne May. Grandma Dorothy (Greg Dustin) came on for second over the pocket-sitting Spare Time Lilley (Andy Moore). Aberarder Emsfame, a sophomore daughter of Apaches Fame-Lifeline who is owned by Keith Matthews of Forest, Ont., has won five times in 13 starts earning $25,135.
In the next split, Angels First Cammi advanced from third after the halfway point under the guidance of Thomas Smith and paced on to win in 2:01.2 by two and a half lengths. Mischievous Luck (Terry Kerr) was the runner-up and favourite Stonedust Cammy (Mark Pezzarello) finished third. Jayne Walker trains the winning Cammibest-Hidden Angel miss for owner Homer Martin of Elmira, Ont. She is now four-for-six with $14,690 earned.
Presentingpatricia and Doug McNair, sent postward as the bettor’s choice in the fourth division, had to the work for the lead during the first quarter, but once in control she refused to yield to her challengers. The four-year-old daughter of Rambaran-Presenting Brooke turned back Stayoutofmyaffair (Danny Johnson) past three-quarters and held off Higher Standards (Al Cullen) in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length in 2:03.1. Stayoutofmyaffair finished third. The win was Presentingpatricia’s third straight and fourth overall in seven starts. John Warner owns and trains the winner of $14,403.
Earlier on the card, the Middlesex County Trotting Series kicked off for colts and geldings featuring three $9,000 splits.
Ba Ba Kada angled three-wide at three-quarters to come on from fourth for the maiden-breaking victory in the card’s opener. The three-year-old son of Kadabra-Moral Victory stopped the clock in 2:06.4 for trainer/driver Tom Durand, who also shares ownership with June Durand of Puslinch and Terry Devos of Langton, Ont. Favourite Eastoaklane (Doug McNair) finished a length and a quarter behind despite enduring broken equipment and pacesetter Dynamicspeed (Tom Hamm) completed the triactor.
With trainer Greg Dustin at the lines, Once A Thief played follow the leader with Maldeen (Anthony Haughan) until the half, then swooped to command and trotted away to score his third straight win in 2:03.1 by two lengths. Lindy For Life (Terry Kerr) finished second with Whitesand Diego over 19 lengths in arrears. The three-year-old son of Dr Ronerail-Personal Touch has won three times in 14 career starts earning $19,100 for owners Roy Knight of St. Thomas and Gerald Crossan of London, Ont.
Dustin returned to the winner’s circle one race later after guiding Phantom Piper to a 2:06.2 front-end victory. The three-year-old son of Earl-Garys Gait battled favourite and eventual third-place finisher All In Gass (Reg Gassien) past three-quarters and held off Mutineer Yankee (Stuart Sowerby) in the stretch to win by half a length. Kristina Anderson trains and co-owns the winner of two races in 15 starts and $18,560 with Kenneth Wiese of Paisley, Ont.
The Middlesex Series is for Ontario-sired performers, four years of age and younger, who were non-winners of $10,000 in lifetime earnings as of September 15, 2009.
The second legs of the Series are scheduled for next weekend at Western Fair with the $50,000 finals set for Saturday, November 7.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click here.