After surviving late pressure from a first-over foe, Thats The Life then had to survive a Judges’ inquiry and a driver’s objection to take home top prize in Monday’s featured $11,000 Preferred 2 at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Thats The Life, who was sent off as the 9-5 favourite, got away third in the eight-horse affair while Clic K powered the field through first-half panels of :28.4 and :59. Thats The Life and Alfie Carroll moved to the outside halfway around the second turn and managed to drop into the two-hole nearing the mid-way point.
Kendal Gustav was left first-over, and shortly past the half-mile marker he and Thats The Life raced in tight quarters and made contact with one another when Thats The Life manoeuvred out of the pocket position. Thats The Life brushed to the front in the backstretch and led at the three-quarter pole in 1:29. He then used a :30.2 closing quarter to stave off a determined Kendal Gustav by three-quarters of a length in 1:59.2. Smokin Bear was third.
Lorne House, the driver of Kendal Gustav, filed an objection against Alfie Carroll, the driver of Thats The Life, claiming interference was caused by that foe shortly past the half. The ORC Judges disallowed the objection and let the original numbers stand.
Victor Puddy trains Thats The Life for owner Keith Cassell of Smiths Falls, Ontario. The six-year-old son of Life Sign-All That now owns a 2-3-0 record from five trips to the track this season. The 19-time winner has banked more than $225,000 to date.
Monday’s card also featured a set of $7,000 Preferred 3 affairs – one for pacers and one for trotters.
Leafs And Wings was a front-stepping winner in the pacing affair for the tandem of driver Scott Coulter and trainer Michael Rogers. The seven-year-old son of Rambaran-Rockton Road parked past the quarter pole in :28.2 before clearing to the lead and tossing out middle splits of :59.4 and 1:29.2. The public’s top choice then used a :30.2 final frame to win by one-quarter of a length over Twin B Brat in 1:59.4. Judge Jon survived a tough, first-over trip to finish third.
Gregory Rogers of Auburn Hills, Michigan bred and owns the 24-time winner who broke into the win column for the first time this season. The lion’s share of the purse increased his career cash stash to $278,266.
The $7,000 Preferred 3 for trotters went to Joyful Road, who erupted for a 38-1 upset in her assignment for driver Lorne House. The five-year-old daughter of Thunder Road-Hasty Image rallied into the slowing tempo and drew clear to win by 1-1/2 lengths over Winkys Pride, with the show dough going to House Of Cash.
Peter Core of Sarnia, Ontario shares ownership on the mare with partners Raymond Core, Daniel Diebold and Don Allensen. The homebred improved this year’s record to 2-1-0 from five starters while her overall bank account climbed upwards of $77,000.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.