Sent postward as the 6-5 bettors' choice, Spicey P delivered on his pari-mutuel promise with a 7-1/2-length romp in the $25,600 final of the Ontario Sired Autumn Series for two and three-year-old pacing colts on a rainy Friday night (Oct. 29) at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Leaving from the middle of the gate, Spicey P led all the way for driver Colin Kelly, posting fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:27.1 before pulling away from the rest of the field to score in 1:57.4 over the sloppy track. Two-year-old gelding Unlaced (Alfie Carroll) followed back in second-place while Drowns The Whiskey (Natasha Day), who suffered interference before the start resulting in a refund, avoided a breaker at the top of the stretch as he was maneuvered to the passing lane and edged out the first-over traveller, Ricottabkiddinme (Anthony Haughan), for third.
A leg one winner on October 15, Spicey P paid $4.20 to win the final.
The Up The Credit-Sydney Seelster gelding now has three wins and three second-place finishes from 14 races this year after going winless in three rookie starts. He is trained by Chris Matthews and owned by Jessica Breese Karn, Desmond Scott, Gary Lyons and Stephen Byers.
Kelly also drove 3-5 favourite Casimir Swamp Girl to a 1:57.2 front-end victory in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace, keeping Buttermilk Hanover (Robert Shepherd) at bay with Temagami Seelster (Lorne House) following from the pocket in third. The popular five-year-old Up The Credit mare, who is now six-for-14 this year, paid $3.20 to win. Kyle Bossence trains the career winner of 24 races and $142,301 for owner William Pendleton.
Driven by Scott Wray, 4-1 second choice Lefkada rallied three-wide down the backside and into the stretch then held off the late-closing Jayport Hi Class (Greg Dustin) in the $11,000 Preferred 3 Trot for trainer Jack Wray, who also co-owns with Thomas Wray and Peter Charlton. The five-year-old E L Titan mare notched her third win this year from 16 starts and her 12th victory lifetime, pushing her bankroll just over $170,000. The winning time was 2:06.4 for 1-1/16-mile finale.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.