Front-end speed was the key to success for Monday's Preferred 3 winners, Sure Please and Saulsbrook Peach, at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Driven by Ryan Holliday, Sure Please fired to the top from Post 3 and successfully sliced out splits of :29.2, 1:00.1 and 1:30 before kicking home in :28.4 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Down On My Luck in 1:58.4. Taking home third prize was Rough Trade.
Sent off as the 7-5 favourite, the seven-year-old son of Million Dollar Cam-Shirley For Sure notched his second win of the season from six attempts for partners Caroline Holliday, Dennis Hannath and Peter Emann. Dave Holliday trains the nine-time winner who pushed his lifetime earnings over $60,000 with the victory.
Saulsbrook Peach took the same tactical approach to capture the other $8,500 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers for the tandem of driver Robert Shepherd and trainer Isabelle Darveau.
Shepherd punched the accelerator as soon as the starting gate sped away, and the gelding responded by zipping to the front and whacking out fractions of :29, :59.4 and 1:28.2. A :29-second closing quarter was enough to earn Saulsbrook Peach the win by 4-1/4 lengths over The Loan Ranger in 1:57.2. Taking home the show dough was Reb The Raider.
Sent off at odds of 9-2, the nine-year-old son of Royal Mattjesty-Atlanta Girl picked up his second win of the season for owner Catheline Pelletier of Mirabel, QC. The 26-time winner has banked more than $150,000 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.