Western Fair Raceway’s 15-race Boxing Day card featured a variety of Preferred events for both pacers and trotters.
In the $18,400 Preferred Trot, track record holder Brawn Seelster and William Rankin tipped off second-over cover and flexed his muscles as he charged home winning 2:02.1 ahead of the pacesetter, New Dice Please (Steven Sowerby). Twin B Rawley (Gord McKnight) rounded out the top three.
Rankin trains and co-owns the six-year-old Berndt Hanover gelding with Jeff Goreski of Richmond Hill, Ont. Brawn Seelster, a winner of $358,990, scored his third straight Preferred victory and his 33rd career win this afternoon.
Shadywood Baron overcame a second-tier start from Post 8 and odds of 12-1 to score in the Preferred Pace for trainer Jim Ellis and owner Betty Ellis of Essex, Ont.
Driven by Al Carroll, the five-year-old son of Rambaran angled four-wide around the final turn from third-over and scooted home in 1:59.3 for the win. Oakley Seelster (Bruce Richardson) finished one and three-quarter lengths back in second and Xlb Patrick (Brad Forward) finished third while the tempo setter, Blueridge Finance (Marc St. Louis, Jr.) faded to seventh.
Shadywood Baron, a winner of 14 races, has earned $150,979 is his career.
In the $12,800 Preferred 2 Trot, Walter Whelan guided Grin And Boo It to a three-length victory in wire-to-wire fashion for Ralph Lake of Etobicoke and John Christensen of Scarborough, Ont.
The Whelan trainee, who is a seven-year-old son of Grinfromeartoear, picked up his 23rd career win and boosted his bankroll to $220,180 after winning in 2:04.3. Kelkatraz (Glen Hardy) was the runner-up and Spirit Of Canada (Alan Morrison) finished third.
Lifes Rocky A, also trained by Whelan, prevailed in the matching Preferred 2 Pace taking his 15th lifetime win and lifting his earnings to $83,484.
The seven-year-old son of Life Sign and owner/driver Mike Whelan got away third as Tymal Cameron (Mike Sumner) and C Ws Special (Bruce Richardson) battled on top to the opening quarter. With the inside advantage, the favoured Tymal Cameron settled on top and led the field around the half-mile oval as Cams Best Bet (Doug McNair) moved first-up. At the top of the stretch, Lifes Rocky A tipped out wide and sprinted home for the win in 2:00.1. Missionacomplished (Ross Battin) came on for second forcing Tymal Cameron to settled for third.
Dangerous Years cut the mile in the $15,200 Preferred Pace for the ladies. The Wayne Preszcator pupil held off the pocket-sitter, Lady Mach (Mike Sumner), by half a length for the win in 1:59.3 while Power In Rein (Bruce Richardson) nabbed the show spot.
Don McElroy steered the five-year-old daughter of Western Hanover to her 14th victory. Dangerous Years, who is owned by Bulletproof Entreprises of Boca Raton, Florida, has earned $179,671 in her career.
The other winning miss was Trace Of Luck, who took her 23rd career win in the $11,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace.
Gobro Gramma G (Lyle MacArthur) was the early leader, but Pride Of Dilinger (Mike Langdon) quickly advanced to the front. She led to the half where Trace Of Luck moved out from third and pulled away by two and a half lengths. However, the post-time favourite, Pride Of Dilinger, got a second wind and closed in on the six-year-old daughter of Northern Luck. Trace Of Luck managed to hold on by a neck for the win in 2:01 to cap off the program. Random Dreamer (Bruce Richardson) closed well for third.
Mark Horner trains the winner of $315,395 for the Sure Gain Stable of Mitchell and Susan McNeight of St. Marys, Ont.
To view the charted lines from Friday, click here.
How gratifying it was to see
How gratifying it was to see Shadywood Baron home first in yesterday's preferred at WFR. "Buddy" as he is known by his stable name, is the "stuff" that dreams are made of, the thing that gives hope and inspiration to the so called "little guy" in the sport. This dream began many years ago when Jim Ellis started to take in the races in his native Northumberland County back in the 1940's.
He is not only the star of the Ellis stable, he is the only horse sent postward during this season by the Ellis family. Amazing to have just one horse and have such a banner year. He is a homebred in the truest sense, foaled on the familly farm from a broodmare band of just one, she too a homebred named Taylor Kate. Jim and his wife Betty literally "do it all" with a little help from grandaughter Kayley Creighton on race day. A nifty drive by Alfie Carroll on this day was a big factor too.
While the tradition of Boxing Day may be the occasion to return a gift, the routine on this day was for Shadywood Baron to play "Santa" a day later than usual and give the Ellis's one more gift under the tree !!
GOOD SHOW !!