Within three weeks of returning to the track from a six and a half month long layoff, Sparky Mark established a new lifetime mark of 1:49.2 in the $30,000 Preferred 2 Pace on Saturday night at Woodbine Racetrack
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Blasting off the gate from the outside Post 9, Sparky Mark and driver Ron Pierce took control of the field and carved out fractions of :26.1, :54.3 and 1:22.2 en route to the three and a half length score. Peenie (Randy Waples) and Rush Rules (Jody Jamieson) rounded out the top three.
Sparky Mark paid $15.30 to win as the 6-1 fifth choice. The four-year-old son of Astreos-Luckbealadytonite is trained by Mark Austin for owner-breeder Leo Thibodeau of Windsor, Ont. He is now seven-for-11 on the year with three wins in four starts since his return. His 2011 earnings surpassed the $100,000 mark while his lifetime bankroll climbed to $217,590.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.