After having a three-race winning streak halted when he finished third in an overnight event on Dec. 9 at The Raceway at Western Fair District, Sports Jacket returned to the London oval and found his way back to victory lane thanks to an easy triumph in the $8,600 featured event.
Sports Jacket shot right to the top for driver Colin Kelly, who had the colt on the lead through fractions of :28.2, :59 and 1:27.2 before using a :29.1 final frame to win by 6-1/2 lengths over Mach Art In Motion in 1:56.3. Jackrabbit Jody was third.
Sent off as the 9-5 favourite, the three-year-old son of Sportswriter-Greenwich Girl improved his 2019 record to 9-5-5 from 27 starts this season for trainer Lindsey Kerr and owner Sally Charlton of Tecumseh, Ont. To date, he’s banked just shy of $40,000.
Blue Moose was a repeat winner in the $8,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers.
Robert Shepherd got away seventh with the Isabelle Darveau pupil, who watched Artistic Pick and heavily favoured Brave World battle through first-half fractions of :27.4 and :56.3. Brave World backed away, and taking over his first-over role was Buckeroo. He brushed to the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1 before weakening in the late stages of the mile.
Blue Moose, who got into the outside flow at the half while sitting last, made a bold, three-wide move on the way to the three-quarter pole. Blue Moose eventually worked his way to the lead, and his :30.2 closing panel was enough to earn him the win by 1-1/4 lengths over Artistic Pick in 1:57.4. The Loan Ranger came on late to finish third.
Let go as a 6-1 outsider, the four-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Whig Party pushed his win total to 13 from just 27 trips to the track this season. Shepherd owns the 20-time winner who has banked $113,714 in his career.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.