A trio of Preferred events went postward Monday at The Raceway at Western Fair District, with Royal Outlook winning the richest event on the 12-race card.
The Tom Hamm-trained Royal Outlook and driver Rob Sparling, Jr. turned a two-hole trip into a one-length triumph in the $10,500 Preferred 2 for pacers. The five-year-old son of Royal Mattjesty-Fresh Outlook stalked race favourite Clic K through panels of :26.4 and :56.3 before pulling the pocket and pressing that foe to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.1. Royal Outlook used a :29.3 closing quarter to seal the deal in 1:56. Rays San rallied from far back to finish second, with Smarter Yet rounding out the Triactor ticket.
Dave Hudson of Dallas, Texas owns the gelding who improved his 2013 record to 4-9-6 from 29 trips to the track. The 23-time winner surpassed $265,000 in lifetime earnings in the process.
Thundering Ovation disappointed as the favourite when he took on Woodbine foes on November 9, but he bounced back to capture Monday’s $7,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 & 3 Handicap. Billy Davis, Jr. marched her to the lead from Post 4 and after slicing out splits of :28.3, 1:00.4 and 1:30.2 she used a :30.3 kicker to win by a neck over Lexus Helios in 2:01. Just One Day was a distant third.
Gerry Sloan trains the four-year-old daughter of Thunder Road-Shesintuff for Joanne and Courtney Sloan of Harley, Ontario. The homebred, who won for the ninth time in her career, went over $150,000 in lifetime earnings with the victory.
The ageless Secret Weapon was ninth in a Preferred-3 for pacers on November 10, but he bounced back with a 1:59.3 score in Monday’s Preferred-3 assignment for the team of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Wayne Preszcator. Sent off as the 9-5 favourite, the 11-year-old son of Western Hanover-Falcons Secret survived a first-over journey to win by a one-length margin over Stoney Durkin in 1:59.3. Pacesetter Button Up faded late to finish third.
It was the first win of the season for the 56-time winner, who is owned by Secret Weapon Stables of Waterloo, Ontario. The veteran has stashed away more than $654,000 in lifetime earnings.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.