“Lefkada wants a blanket,” exclaimed The Raceway’s announcer Sugar Doyle as Friday's $10,000 Preferred 3 Trot celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society (OSAS) was in the final seconds.
And the only mare in the field was successful as she took down favourites Sicario and Willyorwonthe in the final steps to win in 1:57.2 on the first Friday of the track’s fall meet.
Willyorwonthe set the tempo through fractions of :28.1 and :58.2, and at the 1:27.3 third panel, he had company in Sicario, who managed to take over as they headed out of the last turn. However, Lefkada was on the outside with tons of trot and grabbed the win for driver Tyler Borth, returning $12.10 to her backers. Sicario and Willyorwonthe weren’t far behind in second and third.
The win was the second in 13 tries this year for the five-year-old daughter of E L Titan, owned by trainer Jack Wray along with Thomas Way and Peter Charlton. Tonight’s effort puts her over $160,000 in lifetime earnings. Lefkada is a half-sister to $1.4 million winner Intimidate.
Giving Lefkada that blanket, along with other gifts on behalf of OSAS, was Joice Schofield, a long time volunteer for OSAS, and her daughter Kristine Robertson. The Raceway is the 10th Ontario racetrack to celebrate OSAS’s 25th anniversary this year. Next up will be Mohawk on October 23 and the final race will be at Rideau Carleton on October 28.
Charmbo Prince and driver Paul MacKenzie took Friday's second Preferred 3 division for trotters, advancing first-up on front-stepping favourite Veyron and pulling ahead down the lane for the 1:58.2 one-length score, with Jayport Hi Class closing late to his outside for second. Early leader Conquest AS finished third. Owned and bred by trainer John Rier and Randy Rier, the four-year-old Royalty For Life gelding is now five-for-16 this year. He paid $9.10 to win as the 7-2 second choice.
The co-featured $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace went to Temagami Seelster in a 73-1 shocker as the four-year-old daughter of Sunshine Beach rallied three-wide from third-over and out-sprinted 4-5 favourite Manhattan Night, who was shuffled to last at the top of the lane. She prevailed by a head in 1:57.2, producing a $149.80 win payout, with Lorne House in the bike for her debut from the Scott McNiven barn for new owner Dr. Robert Boyce. Sports Icon, who took command from the leading co-favourite Mywishlistforyou at the third quarter mark, finished 1-1/2 lengths behind in third. Fresh off a victory over Flamboro Downs two weeks ago, Temagami Seelster now has three wins from 13 starts this year.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(With files from OSAS)