Sirius Star was a handy winner in the first two legs of the Ontario-Sired Autumn Series for two- and three-year-old fillies at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and it was more of the same in Monday’s rich final.
With $27,600 on the line, driver Mike Horner wasted no time in sending Sirius Star to the position of command. The filly sliced out panels of :28, :58.1 and 1:28 before cruising home in :30.2 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Trafalgar. Taking home the show dough was Bettors Burn.
It was the fifth win of the season from 10 attempts for the three-year-old daughter of Mach Three-Siri Hanover, who hangs her harness bag in the barn of trainer Mark Horner. Mark shares ownership on the six-time winner with Douglas Wilson of Dorchester, Ont. The victory bumped her lifetime bankroll to $36,122.
The card also featured a pair of Preferred events for horse and gelding pacers – one going the distance of a mile and the other going 1-1/16 miles.
Im Not Bad took down the $8,500 Preferred 3, and he paced the mile in 1:56.4 to do it for trainer/driver Terry Fritz.
The six-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Rafaella Seelster came first-over and used a :29-second closing quarter to win by five lengths over heavily favoured Buckeroo. Cullen Keefe N took home third prize in the eight-horse affair.
Sent off at odds of 8-1, Im Not Bad improved his 2019 record to 4-3-0 from 15 starts with the win. The 19-time winner is closing in on $90,000 in lifetime earnings for owner Bud Fritz of Walkerton, Ont.
NJs Trick Pistol went the ‘extra’ distance to take home top honours in the $9,400 Preferred 3 for driver Marc St. Louis.
The veteran was treated to a two-hole trip behind D M Johnwick every step of the mile before finding clearance in the lane. Once the room opened up, the veteran popped out and got up to win by a neck in 2:05.3 over D M Johnwick. Bettors Western finished third.
Sent off at odds of 22-1, the 11-year-old son of Sagebrush-A Passing Breeze won for the sixth time this season and for the 42nd time in his career. He’s closing in on $200,000 in career earnings for owner/trainer William Leon of Maidstone, Ont.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.