Docsphillycheese surged from a third-over trip to capture the final top-level race of the year at The Raceway at the Western Fair District, getting up by a head in the $11,000 Horses and Geldings Preferred Pace on New Year’s Eve.
Garrett Rooney opted not to leave with the stallion from post five in a heavy blizzard, dropping him back to sixth heading into the first turn. Granite Beach (Travis Cullen) secured the lead from the inside post and showed the way with fractions of :29.1, :59.1, and 1:28.2 over the track rated good and three seconds slow.
Docsphillycheese joined the outside line in front of the stands, following the cover of a second-over Batterup Hanover (Jason Ryan) around the third turn and onto the backstretch. He tracked that opponent three-wide as they swung for home, then slid out and flew to the line to nab the victory by a head in 1:59.3. Beach Tour (Mike Horner) closed for third.
Docsphillycheese scored his third win in his most recent four appearances and took the London Preferred for the first time since April. Britt Kennedy of Ingersoll, Ont. trains her homebred, whom she co-owns with Moneyclip Racing of Morpeth, Ont. The six-year-old Betterthancheddar-Flight Of An Angel stallion improved his career record to 31-for-116 with $209,839 in the bank. He paid $16.60 to win.
The 14-year-old Brodys Scrapper ($8) visited victory lane one last time as he won the $7,000 Auld Lang Syne Pace for older horses in 2:03.3. Travis Cullen drove the gelding to victory for trainer Tyler Schlatman. The Mach Three-Witness To Fame gelding, who will be officially retired as of midnight, finished his career with 75 wins in 280 starts and $443,690 in earnings.
Nine-year-old Workinitonbroadway captured the $7,500 Auld Lang Syne Trot off a pocket trip for trainer-driver Don Rankin with a 2:06.3 mile.
Austin Sorrie, Canada’s leading driver in wins, finished the season as The Raceway’s top pilot with 155 victories. Defending champion Garrett Rooney finished second with 132, and third-placed Daryl Thiessen picked up 108 wins in London in a breakout season.
Lindsey Kerr won the training title with 60 victories. She was eight tallies clear of Francis Guillemette (52), who was followed by Gerard Demers with 48.
Racing at Western Fair will continue on Friday, Jan. 2.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)