Nick Steward had the winning touch in Monday’s Preferred events at The Raceway at Western Fair District, as Newbie and E L Rock won their respective assignments at the half-mile oval.
Newbie was aggressively handled in the $8,300 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3, and that approach helped the gelding produce a 1:54.4 score. After starting from the second tier, the three-year-old son of Always A Virgin-Nat A Tat Tat was parked and pressing at the quarter pole before he eventually worked his way to the top. Once on the lead, he sped the field through middle panels of :57.4 and 1:26.2. He smoked home in :28.2 to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Red The Raider. Taking home third prize was Tomitta Bayama.
Ian Hyatt trains the pacer for partners Larry Ainsworth of Petrolia, ON and William Boden of Vancouver, BC. The nine-time winner has notched seven of his wins this season, and he’s stashed away more than $56,0000 to date.
In his second start for new connections since being claimed, E L Rock used front-stepping tactics to take home the top prize in the $7,500 Preferred 3 for trotters. The seven-year-old son of Yankee Glide-Courtney Hall led through panels of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:29.2 before using a :31-second closing quarter to win by three lengths over Cimeronken in 2:00.2. Rounding out the Triactor ticket was Brontewine.
Trainer Britt Kennedy co-owns the gelding with Karry Howard of Wardsville, ON. It was the third win of the season for the 15-time winner who now boasts a bankroll that climbed over $320,000.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.