Making just his second start since posting the upset in the Spring Pacing Championship at Woodbine on April 7, 2007, Stormaway looks to be returning to that form with an impressive win in one of three $13,000 Preferred events on Tuesday night at Georgian Downs.
With trainer and co-owner Dan Megens at the lines in the $13,000 Preferred 2 Pace, Stormaway was unable to get a spot on the rail as the field barreled into the first turn and subsequently followed first-over advancer Donegal Gerald (Tony Kerwood). That one engaged in a front end tussle with Elm Grove Operativ (Sylvain Filion) through a :57.1 half. Before the 1:25.2 three-quarters, Megens had Stormaway tipped three-wide and cleared the leaders at the head of the lane but then needed to deal with a monster closer in Buckeye One (Scott Zeron). Megens was able to convince Stormaway to hold off the favourite by a half-length in 1:54.1 with Trevor Jay B (Steve Byron) in the show spot.
Janice Van Nest and Peter Caetano co-own Stormaway (Northern Luck - Nice Scooters) with Megens, and the ownership group watched their pacer notch his 16th win in 29 starts with just under $400,000 in purses.
Georgian's two $13,000 Preferred 2 Trot events were both catpured by favourites. The fastest of the two tilts went to the venerable nine-year-old trotting machine Abbey Road C and trainer-driver Keith Jones in 1:56.3. Margaret Charlton of Sarnia, Ont. watched her star trotter nab his 60th lifetime win and inch closer to the $2 million earnings mark.
The other split went to the speedy and unpredictable New Dice Please, who was on point for a nine-length thrashing of his eight rivals in 1:57 for new trainer Andy Hardy and driver Brad Hanners - a recent addition to the Georgian driving colony. Bill Manes, Robert Little, Paul Sabourin and William Cripps share ownership on the Donerail - Bally High gelding, now a winner of nine races campaign and nearly $250,000 lifetime.
For the lines from Georgian, click here.