Siboney ($7.80) starred in the opening leg of the Pop Up Series for $7,000 claiming filly and mare pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District, leading all the way to take the fastest division of the night on Friday.
In one of seven $5,400 series splits, Siboney and driver Natasha Day took control from the inside post and cruised through fractions of :29.1, 1:00 and 1:29.2 en route to the 1:59.3 victory for trainer Robert Doyle and owner Cindi Lynn Ross of Cambridge, Ont. The six-year-old Windfall Blue Chip mare finished 1-1/4 lengths ahead of the favoured pocket-pursuer Sheplaysforkeeps, with War Diamond following in third.
A winner of nine races in her current campaign, Siboney was claimed for the 11th time this year -- this time for an $8,750 tag by Dewey Wynham And Howe of Thornhill, Ont.
A 2:01 series winner for trainer Doug Currie, Northern Belle ($8.50) was one of four driving victories on the 11-race card for Garrett Rooney.
Among his Friday night wins, Rooney guided trailing tier trotting filly Global News ($5.10) to a 2:01 victory in the opener for Angela Carroll, who celebrated her first training triumph. After watching the early action up front in the $8,600 conditoned class, Rooney sent the 3-2 favourite underway from the backfield at the midway mark and drafted behind Yeti Set Go until the stretch. Global News defeated Yeti Set Go by 1-1/4 lengths at the end, with Essential Worker finishing back in third. A former Western Fair Caretaker of the Year who was sending out just her sixth starter as a trainer, Carroll recently acquired Global News and the sophomore daughter of Archangel earned her first win of the season from 18 races.
Other Pop-Up Series winners included upsetter Miss Brandi K ($17.70) in 2:01 for driver Jason Ryan and trainer David O'Brien; Golden Leader ($5.40) in 1:59.4 with Aaron Byron driving for conditioner Joe Pereira; Cameron McQueen's E R Rhonda ($6.20) and J Harris in 2:02.2; Something Royal ($9) in 2:00.4 for trainer/driver Carol Voyer; and sophomore filly Red Dirt Lovenlife ($6.70) in 2:02.3 with Preston Shaw in the bike for the Ben Hollingsworth stable.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.