Meadowview Arny and driver Richard Webb pulled off a sweep of the Christmas Wish Trotting Series at Kawartha Downs after capturing the $15,700 final on Saturday night
. The series is for non-winners of one race or $10,000 (F&M $12,500) lifetime.
Webb, who drove elimination winners Meadowview Arny and Winning Miss Betty for trainer Mike Wade during a five-win performance last Saturday, opted to stick with 'Arny' despite drawing the outer seven-hole.
Winning Miss Betty, with catch-driver John Thomson in the sulky, emerged from post position three as the early leader in the field of top nine contenders from last weekend's elimination round while Mahana (Henrik Hollsten) made a break in stride off the gate.
Following a :30.2 opening quarter, Webb rolled Meadowview Arny out from third and cleared the front as they raced in front of the grandstand for the first time. Their lead was short-lived though as the favoured trailing tier starter, Waltsa Seelster (Aaron Byron), another elimination winner, was on the move and worked his way to the top around the clubhouse turn.
Waltsa Seelster led the field past the half in 1:00.3 and three-quarters in 1:30.3 with El Roope (Jonathan Drury) advancing down the backstretch and flushing Meadowview Arny back out of the pocket.
Meadowview Arny then went head-to-head with the leader around the final turn, wearing him down at the head of the lane and holding off his rivals to score in 2:01.4. El Roope was second with Winning Miss Betty finishing third.
Unraced as a two-year-old, the sophomore Ken Warkentin-Meadowview Tiffy gelding has recorded three wins in 13 starts this year while earning nearly $25,000 for owner-breeder Meadowview Farms Inc. of Orono, Ont.
Meadowview Arny paid $5.70 to win as the 9-5 second choice.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Kawartha Downs.