Truro Raceway wrapped up its 2018 season of live action on Sunday (Dec. 16), and it was seven-year-old Rusty Riley and 14-year-old veteran Montreal Phil that took centre stage at the half-mile Nova Scotia oval.
Rusty Riley ($12.70) raced like a well-oiled machine in the $1,675 Winners-Over Pace (Race 6), as the public’s 5-1 third choice threw a gate-to-wire effort at his five foes.
Over a ‘good’ track that was rated one second slow, Rusty Riley and his trainer/driver, Paul Langille, were first off the wings of the starter, as the duo sprinted away from Post 4 before crossing over and freezing the quarter-mile clock in :29.1.
The chestnut Blissfull Hall gelding continued to race on the point through the middle splits (1:00.3, 1:30.1) and was engaged by the pocket-pulling Ramblinglily (driven by Todd Trites) in the third quarter.
Rusty Riley was not to be outdone on this day, though, as the Chantel Gillis (Truro) and Dana Getto (New Waterford) owned pacer completed his mile with a :29.2 final quarter. He opened up a bit more real estate in the lane and went on to win by two and a half lengths in 1:59.3.
Ramblinglily held on for second, while the Robert Laffin-driven Electric Syl finished further back in third. Preceptor and Distinctiv Rusty finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Montreal Phil and trainer/driver Darren Crowe, pictured victorious at Truro Raceway on Sunday, December 16, 2018
A few dashes earlier (Race 3), warhorse Montreal Phil ($2.10) made the final Truro start of his career when he was sent postward as the public’s choice – the fifteenth consecutive time he has been given the honour.
Trainer/driver Darren Crowe had his Blissfull Hall bay positioned well early. The duo worked into the two-hole and sat the pocket as the Kirk Parris-driven Stature Seelster cut the opening quarter in :28 and the front half in :56.
Crowe angled to make his move in the third quarter and had Montreal Phil first up on Stature Seelster as the latter spun off three quarters in 1:27.1.
Even though they were trailing by almost two lengths at the head of the lane, Montreal Phil and Crowe had what it took late, as they reeled in Stature Seelster and went on to win by five and a half lengths in 1:58.3.
Stature Seelster held on for second over the Todd Trites-driven Rawdon Gold Digger. Saulsbrook Quick and Arizona Bucks finished fourth and fifth, respectively.
Dawn Ellis Abbott (of Lower Onslow) and Jeff Ellis (of Bible Hill) own Montreal Phil, who has assembled a masterful final campaign for trainer Crowe, who has conditioned the seasoned pro to 20 wins from 28 starts.
Seven dashes went postward during the Sunday card, which saw Langille, Crowe and Dale Spence each win two races apiece.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Truro, click the following link: Sunday Results – Truro Raceway.