Saulsbrook Jessie delivered on her 1-5 pari-mutuel promise with a front-end victory in the featured $12,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace on Friday night (Oct. 7) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
The six-year-old Big Jim-Atlanta Girl mare was a dominant winner in 1:56.2 for the father-son, trainer-driver team of Ron and Brett MacDonald.
With the inside post advantage, Saulsbrook Jessie assumed command off the gate and cruised through panels of :28, :57.3 and 1:26.2 en route to a three-length victory. Mc Kella (Jason Ryan) won the race for place with Charmbo Brie (Paul MacKenzie) rounding out the top three finishers.
Saulsbrook Jessie picked up her ninth win of the season from 28 starts and pushed her annual income to $71,890 for owner Edward Gorc of Sudbury, Ont. A career winner of 28 races, she hit the quarter-million-dollar mark in earnings.
Saulsbrook Jessie paid $2.40 to win.
The Autumn Series for Ontario-sired two and three-year-old trotting fillies began on Friday with driver Travis Henry sweeping the pair of $8,500 opening-round divisions in rein to favourites Crazy Lilly ($3.80) and Angel Of My Dream ($2.70). The series is for non-winners of $10,000 lifetime.
Quebec invader Crazy Lilly gave way to Miss Tory after a contested opening quarter in the first division but caught that rival at the wire to win by a head in 2:04.3, with Deity Seelster 2-3/4 lengths back in third. Henry drove the sophomore daughter of Crazed for trainer Brad Shakes and owner Michel Fontaine.
Angel Of My Dreams overtook the front-striding Lady All Star past the quarter-pole and never looked back as she trotted a 2:03.1 mile to break her maiden, defeating that foe by two lengths. Alexa Play Country was the best of the rest. A three-year-old daughter of Archangel, Angel Of My Dreams is trained by Thomas Riley and owned by Donald Mitchell and Douglas Elen.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.