Illwinifican turned in a career-best performance winning the $11,000 Open Pace in 1:54.1 over a sloppy track at Fraser Downs for trainer and co-owner Dennis Johnston on Sunday, Feb. 19.
Paired with driver James Burke for the first time in his career, Illwinifican got the first call leaving from the inside post position, but 4-5 favourite Sterling Cooper (Dave Hudon) and outsider Read The Proposal (Mike Hennessy) battled three-across for the leading role through a :27 opening quarter. Sterling Cooper forged on to claim the lead over Illwinifican turning in front of the grandstand for the first time while Read The Proposal took back to third. The rest of the field followed in single-file alignment to the half in :56.3 when Sabine Pass (Paul Davies) tipped out behind the trio of early leavers. He progressed down the backstretch to take the lead by the 1:24.4 third quarter mark while Illwinifican swept to the outside and then hauled him down in the stretch for the one-length victory in 1:54.1. Bettor In The Bank (John Chappell) closed outside to finish third just ahead of Sterling Cooper.
The winning time shaved three-fifths of a second off Illwinifican's former lifetime mark that he had set in the Robert Murphy Breeders Stakes Championship as a three-year-old. Johnston trains and co-owns the five-year-old gelding by Allamerican Native with local owner Ray Thomson.
Illwinifican earned his second (consecutive) win from five starts this year and 12th overall to push his bankroll past the $150,000 mark.
He was the 7-5 second choice on the toteboard and returned $4.90 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Fraser Downs.