Four-year-old trotting mare Soft Parade, the only trotter in a field of eight, opened Sunday afternoon's (Dec. 13) harness racing card at Truro Raceway with a track record performance.
Soft Parade defeated a group of maiden pacers in 2:00.4 to lower the track record for aged trotting mares. West River Q T held the previous record of 2:02.2.
Trained and driven by William McNeil, Soft Parade tracked down five-year-old pacing mare Pictonian Sylvia, who had dominated through fractions of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:29.2 with her leading margin five lengths over more. But Soft Parade trotted home in :30.2 to prevail by one and a half lengths. The McNeil-trained freshman filly Heads Up Hanover overcame early interference and came on for third.
After going winless in four starts during her debut 2014 season, Soft Parade has won three of her eight races this year. The Chocolatier-Share The Promise mare is owned by Saulsbrook Stables Inc. of Windsor, N.S.
An accident occurred in the seventh race when Sharon The Moment and driver Hollis White fell after being interfered with at the top of the stretch by favourite Schooner and Ernest Laffin. According to reports from Truro Raceway, the 82-year-old reinsman and his 12-year-old pacer walked away unharmed. The race was won by the front-striding Sf Razamatazz and trainer/driver Mark Whidden.
Barona Lilac earned her 14th win of the year when she rallied wide from the backfield and sprinted away from her rivals in the $1,375 top class for trainer/driver Darren Crowe. The five-year-old Ameripan Gigolo-Solheim mare, who headlined the recently wrapped up Cheering For Charity program this season, stopped the clock in 1:58. Dontstandinmyway, the leader through fractions of :28.4, :58.4 and 1:29.2, finished second and Lil Orphan Cam was third.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Truro Raceway.