After an unproductive road trip to Woodbine Racetrack on November 12, Firethorn returned to Rideau Carleton Raceway on Thursday evening and came up with a narrow score in the $13,000 Preferred Pace
.
John MacDonald hustled Firethorn to the lead from Post 4, and together they led the field to the quarter pole in :27.2 before coming under attack from Montreal Phil. That foe brushed to the lead and was still in command while feeling pressure from a parked out Smokeys Luck at the mid-way point in :57.
Those two continued their tussle to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1 before the pressure finally took its toll on Montreal Phil. Smokeys Luck worked his way to the lead, but Firethorn’s final quarter of :29.1 was too much for Smokeys Luck to handle. Firethorn prevailed by three-quarters of a length over Smokeys Luck in 1:55.3, with the show dough going to Bolero Charles.
MacDonald trains the five-year-old son of Dragon Again-Drawing Card for J P Stables of Winchester, ON. The victory was the gelding’s ninth of the year and the 25th of his career. The career winner in excess of $260,000 went over $100,000 in seasonal earnings with the triumph.
To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.