MacLeans Find Way To Winner’s Circle

Trainer Dion MacLean teamed up with driver Wayne MacLean for three wins on Wednesday’s 12-race New Year’s Eve matinee card at Sudbury Downs including the featured $20,000 Preferred Pace.

Find My Way did just that in the card’s headliner. The four-year-old son of Western Maverick rode the pocket as Owhatabeachbum (David Dowling) carved out fractions of :31.1, 1:02.1 and 1:32.1. With a :28.3 final quarter, Find My Way coasted home for the two-length win in 2:01.2.

Post time favourite Smart Barney (Richard Turcotte) came on for second while the pacesetter finished third.

Owned by the Shaws Creek Stable of Orangeville, Ontario, Find My Way finished off the year with earnings totaling $96,606. The win was the gelding’s 12th trip to victory lane.

Shaws Creek Spirit (2:01.4) picked up a win in Race 4 for the MacLean duo before they enjoyed another thrill in Race 6 with Mach Thrill (2:06.4).

Dion MacLean ended the year with 46 wins and over $235,000 in earnings – his best year to date. The resident of Azilda, Ontario has recorded 74 career wins earning over $521,000 in purses.

Wayne MacLean of Chelmsford, Ontario ended the year with a final hurrah in Race 12 with Close To Paradise (2:06.1) for trainer Meighan MacLennan bringing his career win total to 500 with over $1.7 million in earnings.

In other action, Armbro Edward continued his winning ways in the $12,500 Not Listed Preferred Trot for trainer/driver Justin Turcotte.

The four-year-old son of Balanced Image angled out from fifth before the half and moved three-wide around the parked Speedy Desperado (Pat Barr) at three-quarters. The fan favourite then drew away by two lengths to secure the win in 2:02.3.

Charlie O Charlie (Gerry Belanger) recovered from an early miscue to finish second. Speedy Desperado was third.

The bay gelding notched his 15th career win and lifted his bankroll to $117,650 for owner Norbert Haesen of Berlin, Germany.

To view Wednesday’s results, click here.