A quartet of Preferred events highlighted Monday’s 12-race card at The Raceway at The Western Fair District, with Chinnys Wings and Smarter Yet prevailing in the richest tilts.
Chinnys Wings turned a ground-saving trip into a 2:02 triumph in the $13,200 Preferred Trot, and he did so despite being away from the races for a 24-day period. The eight-year-old son of Armbro Ricochet-I Quiver tucked behind Long Ago, who supplied splits of :29.3, 1:01.1 and 1:30.4, before finding racetrack to work with and using a :30.4 final frame to win by a neck over that tempo-setting foe. Logans Hero finished third.
Sent off as the 9-5 favourite, Chinnys Wings improved his 2013 record to 3-2-0 from five trips to the track. Trainer/driver Doug Bowins of Dundas, ON shares ownership on the 42-time winner with Donald Brinkman o East Coulee, AB. The lion’s share of the purse boosted the veteran’s career bankroll to $351,462.
Smarter Yet also turned a ground-saving journey into a winning effort in the $13,200 Preferred Pace for driver Skip De Mull. The six-year-old son of Western Maverick-Sammartha Stewart got away fifth and sat in the middle of the pack throughout the mile while Sleek Hunter threw down fractions of :28.4, :59 and 1:28. De Mull found a seam for Smarter Yet in the late going and the gelding kicked home in :28.4 to post the half-length decision over Mach It Big in 1:57.3. Royal Outlook tagged along to finish third.
Ginny St. Charles of Whitmore Lake, MI owns the 24-time winner who now boasts a seasonal record of 3-2-0 from seven trips to the track. His share of the purse from the card’s co-feature lifted his career cash stash to $154,564.
A set of Preferred-2 events were also contested Monday in London, with Rock Me Please taking the pacing event and Oaklea Tyson prevailing in the tilt for trotters.
Rock Me Please went to the front and didn’t look back en route to winning the $8,400 Preferred-2 for pacers. Trevor Henry rolled the even-money favourite through splits of :29, 1:01 and 1:30.3 before scooting home in :30.1 to prevail by a head over Flames Cammi Boy in 2:00.4. Classic Call rallied late and grabbed the show dough in the six-horse affair.
Bob McIntosh trains the six-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Please Me Please for Mardon Stables, Robert McIntosh Stables Inc, Carlo Rovella and John McCormack. The victory was the first of the season for the 11-time winner who upped his career bankroll to $347,534.
Oaklea Tyson used the same tactical approach to take home top prize in the $8,400 Preferred-2 for trotters. Owner/trainer/driver Daniel Potvin of Rockwood, ON had the gelding on top through intervals of :30.3, 1:02.3 and 1:32.2 before using a :30-second kicker to win by a length over race favourite Save My Ashes in 2:02.2. CIS Buckeye tagged along to finish third in the four-horse affair.
The five-year-old son of Angus Hall-Bronx Bombshell won for the first time this season and for the 12th time in his career. The winning payday boosted his overall earnings to $94,190.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at The Western Fair District.