Bruce Richardson turned a two-hole trip into a Monday evening score with pacer Jake Loewen in the featured Preferred 2 class for horses and geldings at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Evasive Card Shark did all the heavy lifting while racing on the lead through fractions of :28, :57.4 and 1:26.2, but Richardson popped the pocket late with Jake Loewen and together they used a :29.2 closing kick to win by 1-1/2 lengths over race favourite National Debt in 1:56. Evasive Card Shark faded late and settled for third.
Trainer Jim Ellis co-owns the seven-year-old son of Rambaran-Special Terms with Sven Hansen of St. Thomas, and together they’ve watched the gelding post a 2-0-1 record from four trips to the track this season. The 18-time winner lifted his lifetime earnings to $156,298 with the victory.
Reel was treated to a ground-saving trip by driver J Harris in the $8,900 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers, and the heavily-favoured gelding turned it into a narrow triumph in the added distance affair.
Travelling 1-1/16 miles, Sure Please was the leader through fractions of :28 and :58.1 before Reel applied heavy pressure and showed a short lead while racing parked past the three-quarter pole in 1:27.1. Sure Please came back on and reclaimed the lead at the head of the lane only to give way once again to Reel, who prevailed by a nose over the dead-heating tandem of Bank Shot Hanover and Beach Terror. The affair was clocked in 2:04.1.
Trainer Tim Myers co-owns the seven-year-old son of Shadow Play-Desir with Michael Hale of Livonia, Michigan. It was the first win of the year for the 21-time winner, who now boasts career earnings of $144,306.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.