Boomboom Ballykeel grabbed the bull by the horns and motored to an impressive triumph in Monday’s $11,000 Preferred 2 for horse and gelding pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Assigned post seven in the eight-horse affair, Boomboom Ballykeel wasted no time in marching the lead for driver Alfie Carroll, who had the five-year-old son of Mach Three-Teig N Reilly on top at the quarter in :29.1. From there, they carved out middle panels of :59.2 and 1:28.1 before turning back a first-over bid by race favourite Mckinney en route to besting that foe by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:56.4. Third prize in the featured tilt went to Reasonable Force.
Ballykeel Racing Inc’s homebred now boasts a 2-1-1 record in six starts this season. The 15-time winner lifted his lifetime earnings to $640,956.
Dragon Wave rallied for a comfortable score in the $7,500 Preferred 3 for horse and geldings pacers. Ryan Holliday mapped out the winning trip for the John Pentland pupil who halted the teletimer in 1:59.1.
Holliday tucked his charge into an early four hole while Stoney Durkin and High Flier battled to the quarter pole in :28.3. The latter eventually worked his way to the top, but he quickly came under pressure from Tero. The half flashed up with High Flier on the lead, but Tero swept to the front in the backstretch and took the group past the three-quarter marker in 1:28.1. Dragon Wave enjoyed brief cover behind Tero before being forced into the first-over position once that foe cleared. Dragon Wave kept on coming and eventually used a :30.4 closing quarter to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Tero, with Stoney Durkin nabbing the show dough.
The five-year-old son of Dragon Again-Western Dove won for the second time this season and for the sixth time in his career. Owned by Pentland and partner William Carrothers, Dragon Wave bumped his lifetime earnings to $55,867 with the win.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.