Western Fair Raceway put together a thrilling 12-race card on Monday afternoon that included an $18,400 Preferred Trot and Pace, along with two $15,200 Fillies and Mares Preferred Paces.
Stonebridge Diablo went coast-to-coast in the Preferred Trot. With Ross Battin at the controls, the six-year-old Angus Hall gelding was under pressure through panels of :28.4, :59 and 1:31.2, and then widened his cushion in the stretch to prevail by two and a quarter lengths in 2:02.2.
Grin And Boo It (Walter Whelan) followed in the pocket the entire mile and finished second while Trotting Troy (Dave Wall) completed the top three.
Ron Waples, Jr. trains and co-owns Stonebridge Diablo with partners Randy Waples, Dr. Shelia Atmore and Alan Kirschenbaum. Making his 30th start of the season, ‘Diablo’ improved his 2008 resume to 8-2-7 with earnings of $65,751.
XLB Patrick withstood being parked for the first half-mile to take home top honours in the Preferred Pace. Driver Trevor Henry had XLB Patrick following cover from fourth at the :29.3 opening quarter and the eight-year-old Davids Pass gelding took command at the :59 intermission.
XLB Patrick zipped to the third marker in 1:28.4 and held off a late challenge from Pacific Oak (Ken Oliver) to win by a scant nose in 1:59.2. Speakin Greek (Mike Langdon) finished in the third spot.
Mark Austin trains XLB Patrick for owner Michael Cecile. In 32 starts this year, the veteran has collected $114,001 in purses with a record of 7-5-12. Today was the 52nd lifetime win for the pacer.
A Fiesty Affair showed the short way home in the first division of the F&M Preferred Pace. With Brad Forward doing the steering for trainer Casie Coleman, the sophomore daughter of Camluck hammered out splits of :28.4, :58.3 and 1:29.3 before stopping the clock on top by a quarter-length in 2:00.1.
Stonebridge Celest (Alfie Carroll) rode the rail most of the way and got up for the second spot, with St Lads Seraph (Doug McNair) less than a length back in third.
Bob Hamather bred and owns A Fiesty Affair, who has three wins during 19 starts as a sophomore, earning $131,237.
Tymal Vector scored her second win in three starts when she took home the second split of the F&M Preferred Pace. After settling in third at the :27.4 opening split, driver Trevor Henry moved Tymal Vector first-over on the way to the :58.2 half.
Tymal Vector cleared to the lead in the third quarter and she never looked back, tripping the third beam in 1:29.1 en route to a length victory in 2:01.3. Dance Hall (Don McElroy) rallied into second over Trace Of Luck (Mike Horner).
Dan Creighton conditions Tymal Vector for owner Brian Ostrom. The four-year-old Mach Three mare has seven wins from 30 trips postward this season, leading to a bankroll of $65,416.
To view Western Fair’s results, click here.