Shoot The Whiskey continued her 2024 rotation in the $11,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Tuesday, Feb. 27. With a win and two seconds backing her latest start on Tuesday, the Jodie Cullen trainee tallied her second victory in the London, Ont. distaff feature so far this season.
Favoured Major League N (Ed Hensley) designated herself the pacesetter for the mile and set panels in :27.2, :56.3 and 1:25. So Frisky (Colin Kelly) sat in the pocket and Shoot The Whiskey (Travis Cullen) followed in third. En route to the third quarter panel, So Frisky pulled the pocket and Shoot The Whiskey followed her lead. That trio of horses rounded the final turn within fighting distance of each other. Shoot The Whiskey sprinted home in a :29.1 final quarter to win by a half length in 1:54.4 over Major League N. So Frisky took the show spot.
Travis Cullen co-owns Shoot The Whiskey with Paul Sanders and J J J Stables. The five-year-old daughter of Shadow Play and the American Ideal mare Arm In Arm moved her career record to 21-12-9 in 68 starts, with her bankroll climbing to $273,187. Off as the second choice in the co-feature, Shoot The Whiskey returned a $4.80 ticket to win.
In the co-featured Preferred Trot worth $11,000, Johnny Buckshot and Tyler Borth won by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:57.3.
Borth and the Katie MacNeil student were caught on the outside through the opening panel in :29.1. The pair moved to the pylons in third through the half in :59 before sweeping to the top en route to the three-quarters in 1:29. With a :28.3 final panel, Johnny Buckshot soared home. Marvin Hagler (Brett MacDonald) finished second with Treasured Tee (Mario Baillargeon) third.
Johnny Buckshot (Il Sogno Dream-Third Avenue) is owned by breeder Brad Wilson. In 43 career starts, the five-year-old gelding has a record of 12-10-3 and $79,056 earned. With a win in a career-best time (1:57.2) last week at the London oval, Johnny Buckshot went to the gate as the favourite, returning $3.10 to win.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.
(Standardbred Canada)