He might not have moves like Jagger, but Tony Kerwood artfully guided Blue Suede Shoes to victory in Thursday's $12,000 Preferred Pace at Kawartha Downs
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A field of seven pacers lined up in the afternoon feature and One False Move (Jonathan Drury) was quickest off the gate, leading the field around the opening turn but was quickly collared by Topcornerterror (Des Tackoor) who carved out the :27.4 opening quarter. From third, favoured Milliondollartouch (Aaron Byron) quarter-pole moved in front of the grandstand as the top three pacers opened up some daylight on the rest of the field.
Milliondollartouch passed the half-mile marker in :56.1 and the field began to tighten down the backstretch. Willies Place (Scott Young) started the outer flow, flushing out One False Move from the three hole for cover and providing cover to Dark Prince (Murray Brethour) and Blue Suede Shoes. The third panel flashed up in 1:25.4 and the pacesetter started to feel the pressure around the final turn as Willies Place tipped three wide, leaving Dark Prince out in the four path and Blue Suede Shoes widest of all. Down the stretch, the horses that were sixth and seventh at the half were battling noses apart for the lead and when the dust settled it was Blue Suede Shoes able to grind out the win by a neck over Dark Prince in 1:56.3 with Willies Place taking show honours.
Harry Locke owns and Randy Van Meer trains Blue Suede Shoes (Grinfromeartoear - Touch Dancing), now a winner of four starts in 19 tries on the year.
Trainer Dean Nixon clicked for a training triple on the day, with all Aaron Byron at the lines. Byron and Nixon connected with Dancers Cam in Race 3, Bunny Mach in Race 8 and Cocoa Beach in Race 11.
For the results from Thursday's card of harness racing at Kawartha Downs, click the following link: Thursday Results - Kawartha Downs.