Ultimate Yankee romped to a five length score on Saturday afternoon in the featured $1,700 Winners Over Handicap Pace at Exhibition Park Raceway to record his second straight victory after an extended 11 month layoff
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Moving into the top class after winning his return race on Dec. 10, the four-year-old son of Coastocoast Yankee and trainer-driver Robert Laffin pulled the pocket after the opening quarter mark and swept to command en route to the 1:59.2 triumph over Woodmere Quickpeek and favourite Perfect Trick. He paid $5.90 to win as part of the 2-1 second choice entry.
Ultimate Yankee won last year's Joe O'Brien Memorial Gold Stake and was runner-up in the Atlantic Breeders Crown and Donnie And George Turner Memorial during a season in which he earned most of his $46,405 bankroll for owners the Ultimate Stable and Dawn Hubbard of Greater Lakeburn, N.B. He then competed in the Valedictory Series at Woodbine Racetrack finishing second by a neck in his elimination and fifth in the final. His next start was in the Willowdale eliminations back on Jan. 15.
Ultimate Yankee's stablemate, three-year-old Camluck filly Ultimate Hope, also won her Saturday afternoon conditioning assignment in 2:00.2 by a neck for Laffin and the Ultimate Stable. She paid $10 to win as the 4-1 third choice. The victory was her fifth of the year in 20 starts.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Exhibition Park Raceway.