The favourites had a field day in Monday’s set of $7,500 Preferred 3 events at The Raceway at Western Fair District, as Best To Hurst and Bella Palazzo proved to be popular winners in their respective affairs.
Best To Hurst went to the front and didn’t look back in the Preferred 3 for horses and geldings. The three-year-old pacer shot to the top from Post 1 for driver Alfie Carroll and together they cruised through panels of :28, :58.1 and 1:27.2 before using a :30.1 closing quarter to win by a head over Hussys Blu Boy in 1:57.3. Bugger Max was third.
Victor Puddy trains the son of Cambest-Pinehurst Lady for Keith Cassell of Smiths Falls, Ont. The career winner of $95,888 paid $4.30 to win.
Bella Palazzo was one of driver Bob McClure’s five winners on Monday evening at the London oval.
The five-year-old daughter of Tom Ridge-Bellissimo turned a two-hole trip into a 1:58.3 triumph for McClure and trainer Mike Weller. She stalked Excellence through fractions of :28.3, :59.2 and 1:29.1 in the Preferred 3 for trotters, and he :29.1 closing panel earned her the win by 2-1/2 lengths over Excellence. Lil Daisy Duke took home third prize.
Pod Stable LLC of Seven Hills, OH owns the trotting lass, who paid $3.80 to win. The 20-time winner is just shy of $130,000 in career earnings.
McClure started the week just 10 wins behind Alfie Carroll in the nation’s race for most dashes won. McClure’s five-win performance gives him 480 on the season while Carroll clicked for three wins which brings his yearly win total to 488.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.