E L Rock and Adore Him both motored to the lead in their respective Preferred assignments Monday evening at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and the approach proved to be a winning one for each of the campaigners.
First up was E L Rock, who wasted little time grabbing the lead from the rail for driver Nick Steward. He had the 9-5 favourite on top through intervals of :29, 1:01.1 and 1:31.1 before using a :30.1 kicker to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Excellence, with Waikiki Hanover another quarter of a length back in third.
Trainer Britt Kennedy co-owns the eight-year-old son of Yankee Glide-Courtney Hall with Karry Howard of Wardsville and Jason Bedell of Morpeth, Ont.
Adore Him shot to the top from Post 4 and never looked back for driver Paul MacKenzie. He rolled the gelding through panels of :28.4, :59.4 and 1:29 before storming home in :28.2 to win by a pair of lengths over Littlebitaswagger in 1:57.2. Rounding out the Triactor ticket was race favourite Rise Up Now.
Sent off as the 3-2 second choice in the $7,500 Preferred 3 tilt for horse and gelding pacers, the four-year-old son of Shadow Play-Respectednbeloved improved this year’s record to 9-2-1 from 21 trips postward. The career winner of $82,469 is owned and trained by Curt Blake of Clinton, Ont.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.