Irish Thunder ($11.50) endured a gruelling first-over journey and ground down a game Willyorwonthe to capture Wednesday night's (Dec. 9) featured $8,500 Preferred 3 Trot at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
Irish Thunder landed in third after being outsprinted by Willyorwonthe (Daryl Thiessen) and Nebraska Jack (Tyler Borth), who travelled one-two through a sharp :28.2 first quarter. With five-eighths to go, Austin Sorrie angled the nine-year-old son of Angus Hall off the pegs to begin his first-over ascent, and the pair forced middle splits of :59.2 and 1:29.1 from Willyorwonthe.
The pace slowed significantly through the final turn and into the stretch, but Irish Thunder dug in stoutly to not only maintain his ground, but to reel the longtime pacesetter in by a neck in 2:01.1. Odds-on favourite Lefkada (Scott Wray), who launched a three-wide bid from third-over with five-sixteenths to go, rallied to finish third, missing by only a half length.
Irish Thunder, who has raced exclusively for owner Erin Swainson Brickman and trainer Peter Brickman since first setting foot on a racetrack in 2014, earned his eighth win of the season and the 27th of his career.
To view Wednesday's complete results, click the following link: The Raceway at the Western Fair District.