The three weeks of Middlesex Series action at Western Fair Raceway will conclude tomorrow evening with four competitive finals going forward as part of the track’s richest night of racing during its ongoing fall meet
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Starters in the finals of the series -- for four-year-old and younger Ontario-sired trotters and pacers which were non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of September 15 -- were determined by two preliminary legs held over the past two weeks.
The first division, worth $49,900 and for trotting fillies and mares, will see Another Vixen attempt to sweep after having won her first two legs in decisive fashion. Trainer Shane Weber will once again drive the three-year-old daughter of Kadabra for owners Elizabeth and Tom Rankin. Another Vixen, who has standings of 4-2-1 in nine starts this year, drew the rail in her final, Race 4 on the program.
The pacing mares will be next on the docket in the $52,300 fifth race, which also has a filly at Post 1 that could sweep her division. Smashbox has won both her preliminary legs, the most recent by more than seven lengths, and will leave from the rail with Mike Sumner in the racebike. Jim Ainsworth trains the three-year-old daughter of Mach Three for his father, Larry, of Petrolia, Ont. who co-owns with longtime partners Bill Boden of BC and Martwest Racing Stable of Mississauga, Ont.
The male performers will start their Middlesex action in Race 7, the $48,400 final for trotters which will see local colt Once A Thief attempt to redeem himself after having made a miscue in last week’s preliminary leg. The three-year-old Dr Ronerail colt won his opening leg by two lengths, which was his third straight victory. Greg Dustin trains and drives Once A Thief, who has drawn Post 2, for owners Roy Knight of St. Thomas, Ont. and Gerald Crossan of London, Ont. Another colt to watch in this division is Ba Ba Kada who has captured both his Middlesex legs for trainer/driver Tom Durand who shares ownership of the three-year-old colt by Kadabra with his wife, June.
The fourth Middlesex final, the $49,600 ninth race, will see the pacing horses going postward. Two horses have the potential to sweep in this division. Larjon Barty, a two-year-old gelding by Tuxedo Charlie, has won both his legs by a total of eight lengths for trainer Ron Kerr, driver Trevor Henry and owner Jonathan Lane of Kincardine, Ont. He will leave from Post 3.
Questreos, a four-year-old son of Astreos, will also be attempting his third straight win from Post 8 with Anthony Haughan at the lines. Michael Kwietniowski of Courtice, Ont. trains and owns Questreos.
Also featured on Saturday’s card are two $130,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Gold finals, in Race 3 for two-year-old trotting fillies, and Race 10, for two-year-old pacing colts. A total of $488,600 in purses will be offered on the program, which gets underway with a 7:05 p.m. first-race post time.
Click here to view Saturday's harness racing entries at Western Fair.
(Western Fair)