It was a blanket finish in Monday’s $11,500 Horses & Geldings Preferred 2 class for pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and when the dust settled it was National Debt coming out on top as the 1-2 betting favourite.
National Debt, who left from the rail, was in no hurry in the early going as he was spotted sixth at the quarter pole. The leader at that point was Levis Day in :28, but he felt the parked out pressure of Jay Eye Em at the mid-way point in :58.1. Jay Eye Em worked to the top and proceeded to wheel the field to the three-quarter pole in 1:26.2. Shepherd summoned up :28.3 closing speed from National Debt, who rallied on the grandstand side to win by a neck over the tandem of Levis Day and Jay Eye Em in 1:56.1.
Colin Johnson trains the nine-year-old son of Allamerican Native-Our Inheritance for owner Francois Morin of Beauceville, QC. The 57-time winner owns a 3-1-0 record from four trips to the track this season. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his career earnings to $550,702.
Hes Got Swagger was a front-stepping winner in the $9,400 Horses & Geldings Preferred 3 for pacers at the distance of 1-1/16 miles.
Jack Of Clubs shot to the lead from Post 7 and he cut the opening quarter in :28, but Travis Cullen had Hes Got Swagger in gear from first over. Hes Got Swagger brushed to the top and sliced out remaining panels of :57.4 and 1:27.3 before going on to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Jack Of Clubs in 2:02.4. Boomboom Ballykeel took home the show dough.
Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, the five-year-old son of Vintage Master-Bubbles Promise won for the 27th time in his career for Cullen and co-owner/trainer Rachel Andrew. The win improved his 2020 record to 2-1-0 from five trips to the track, and his share of the purse boosted his overall cash stash to $127,894.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.