The father and son duo of trainer Ron MacDonald and Brett MacDonald swept Monday’s Preferred 3 events for horse and gelding pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Avatar J rallied to a facile score in the $9,400 Preferred 3 event at the distance of 1-1/16 miles.
The five-year-old son of American Ideal-Arts Fantasy got away fourth while Levis Day marched to the top and led the group through early fractions of :28.2, :57.4 and 1:28.4. He lacked that fight in the late stages, though. Avatar J latched onto second over cover for Brett MacDonald, and that trip left him full of pace in the late stages of the mile. He drew clear to win by 3-1/4 lengths over Colorado Buck in 2:06.2. Im Not Bad took home the show dough.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Avatar J won for the fourth time this year and for the 14th time in his career. Dean Larkin and Jody Sanderson share ownership on the career winner of $141,654.
Bettors Western notched his second consecutive for Team MacDonald thanks to his 2:01.1 triumph in the $8,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers.
The five-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Western Moonlight got away sixth while Goldinthebadlands rolled to the lead and chopped out fractions of :28.4, 1:01 and 1:31. Shippen Out went first over in the third quarter, and Bettors Western and driver Brett MacDonald were fifth on the outside tracking cover from third over.
Goldinthebadlands weakened in the lane, and that allowed Shippen Out to boast a slim lead in the late stages of the contest. Bettors Western summoned up a :29.3 closing frame, and that was enough to earn him the win by three-quarters of a length over Another Great Pick. Shippen Out was third.
Ron MacDonald trains the gelding, who was sent off as the 7-5 favourite in the eight-horse affair. Synerco Ventures Inc of Toronto, Ont. owns the 12-time winner who recently surpassed $200,000 in lifetime earnings.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.