Button has been a stalwart on half-mile tracks in Ontario for a number of years, and members of his fan club were handsomely rewarded at the windows on Monday
thanks to his 8-1 upset score in Western Fair Raceway’s $16,000 Preferred Pace.
The six-year-old son of Northern Luck used down-the-road tactics for driver Mike Horner and trainer Mark Horner to capture the event in 1:56.1, winning by a half-length margin over Rudy Valentino. Third prize went to R Lil King. Button Up, who is owned by Sure Gain Stable of Mitchell, ON, now owns a 4-5-7 record from 26 trips postward this season. He has stashed away more than $512,000 during his career.
Ill Call U Back used the same tactics to stake claim to the lion’s share of the purse in the $11,500 Preferred-2 Pace for the tandem of driver Brad Forward and trainer Joe Pereira. The six-year-old son of Northern Luck laid down splits of :27.1, :56.4 and 1:26 en route to posting the 1:55.2 score over Compass Connection and Cammisrazmataz. It was the sixth win of the season for the gelding who is owned by The Merks Stable of New York, NY. He has put away close to $60,000 in earnings this season and more than $147,000 to date.
An off-the-pace approach worked out perfectly for Nobananas in the $11,500 Preferred-2 Trot, as the eight-year-old son of Earl drew off to win by a pair of lengths for driver Aaron Byron and trainer Kim Matthews. Fa Mulan was next best and Long Ago grabbed the show dough. Matthews shares ownership on the gelding with partner Murray Cox of Rockwood, ON. It was the sixth win of the season and the 32nd lifetime score for the career winner of $347,691.
Call Me Yours got the front-end treatment in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred-2 Pace, and she liked it. The four-year-old daughter of Your Nemesis chopped out panels of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:28.1 for driver Dave Wall before scooting home in :29.4 to seal the deal in 1:58. The Stephen Gillard trainee defeated My Ideal and Plumbing Princess. Gillard bred and owns the mare who won for the fourth time in 15 trips postward this season. She has banked more than $47,000 in 2009 and more than $190,000 in her career.
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click here.