Blissfull Breeze was sent off as the 1-2 favourite in Monday’s $15,000 Preferred Pace at Western Fair Raceway, and he had no problem making good on that
pari-mutuel promise.
Fresh off back-to-back victories at Sudbury Downs, Blissfull Breeze was forced into a first-over trip in the featured tilt, but the eight-year-old son of Blissfull Hall-Melbourne Breeze just kept digging before putting away pacesetter Acceptable Risk in the closing strides. Blissfull Breeze used a :28.3 final quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Acceptable Risk, with T Red rounding out the top three finishers in the eight-horse affair.
Travis Bowman was between the wheels for Dean Nixon, who trains the gelding for owner Leo Racicot of Harrow, ON. It was the 12th win of the season and the 49th lifetime tally for the career winner of $326,770.
Ill Call U Back used front-end tactics to take home top prize in the $10,000 Preferred-2 Pace for the tandem of driver J.R. Plante and trainer Joe Pereira. The eight-year-old son of Northern Luck-TA Jomar sliced out splits of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:25.3 before using a :29.1 final frame to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Buckbuckbuck Mach in 1:55.2. Surrealist rallied from far back to grab the show dough.
Sent off as the 1-2 choice in the eight-horse tilt, Ill Call U Back improved his 2011 record to 6-4-7 in 33 starts for The Merks Stable of New York, NY. The 26-time winner boosted his bankroll to $270,246 with the victory.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Western Fair Raceway.