On a night that wasn’t very kind to speed horses, Ufdragons Rocket and Tigra Seelster used their come-from-behind skills to post victories in their respective Preferred assignments during Monday’s 11-race program at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Ufdragons Rocket and driver Alfie Carroll swept past six horses in the back half of the $8,300 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3 en route to win the affair in 1:57.
Carroll got away last with the six-year-old son of Dragon Again-Pacific Monterey, before picking up one position at the next two quarter calls. Retail, in the meantime, was camped out on the front end with the field chasing him through fractions of :27.4, :57.3 and 1:26.4. He still had the lead turning for home, but Ufdragons Rocket was gaining ground in a rapid manner. The gelding’s :29.1 closing quarter earned him the win by 2-1/2 lengths over Retail in 1:57. Red The Raider rounded out the top three finishers.
Richard Moreau trains the gelding for 5527920 Manitoba Ltd of Niagara On The Lake, ON. The win was the fourth of the year for the 19-time winner. He’s banked in excess of $28,000 this year and more than $200,000 to date.
Tigra Seelster was treated to a second-over trip by driver Nick Steward in the $7,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 class, and that played a huge role in helping the mare roll to a one-length triumph over Emerald Rihanna in 1:59.2.
Goldies Mach shot to the front and had the field chasing her through first-half fractions of :28.1 and :58.4. Emerald Rihanna came first-over and worked her way to the top in the backstretch. She was parked while leading at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.3, but hot on her heels were Tigra Seelster and Steward. The mare kicked home in :30.2 to win – as she pleased – for trainer Kyle Fellows.
The five-year-old daughter of Mach Three-That Day is owned by Fellows and partners Dan Knechtel and Arpad Szabo. The victory was the sixth of the season for the 12-time winner. She’s just shy of $100,000 in lifetime earnings following Monday’s triumph.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.