Seven-year-old pacing mare Sportsfancy bid farewell to her racing career by going out with a win that pushed her over $1 million in career earnings on Tuesday
at Harrington Raceway.
Sportsfancy helped driver Ross Wolfenden to a milestone of his own on Tuesday with her last triumph in the second race. The win was one of two Wolfenden required to reach the 5,000-win mark. Sportsfancy turned back first over challenger I Turtle and held off the rallying Thumbprint for the half-length victory in 1:55.2.
With 48 wins, 16 seconds and 16 thirds in 137 lifetime starts, the daughter of Sportsmaster and Finish Firstfancy, owned by Pennsylvania's Baron Racing Stable, is expected to assume broodmare duties.
“It was great to have her go out with a win,” said trainer Josh Green. “She’s been the epitome of a blue collar mare; she made a million the hard way.”
Sportsfancy was a mutiple stakes winner in Illinois at two and three while racing for trainer Homer Hochstetler. As an aged mare she joined Green's stable and climbed to the Open ranks, winning the top class at multiple racetracks including Dover Downs, Harrah's Chester, Harrington Raceway, and the Meadowlands Racetrack. Sportsfancy also picked up victories in legs of the Cape & Cutter, Overbid and Blue Chip Matchmaker Series.
(With files from Harrington Raceway)