Driver Travis Henry, trainer Scott McNiven and local owner Thomas Brodhurst teamed up to sweep Wednesday night's Fillies & Mares Preferred events with Ride Away Shark ($3.70) and Alphabet Queen ($3.30) at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Ride Away Shark rallied three-wide in the backstretch to down the leading Honor Roll in the $10,000 Preferred 2 Pace.
Honor Roll (J Harris) had secured the lead with inside post advantage and carved out panels of :28, :57.2 and 1:26.3 before Ride Away Shark went by in the final turn. Sent postward as the 4-5 favourite, the five-year-old Classic Card Shark mare did not disappoint her backers as she assumed command and cruised home to a two-length victory in 1:57.2. After trailing the field of eight early on, Stonebridge Quest (Bob McClure) tracked the winner's cover and chased her home in second-place. Third prize went to Twin B Inspiring (Nick Steward).
Ride Away Shark, who is now two-for-four on the year, notched her 12th career win and surpassed the $200,000 mark in lifetime earnings.
In the $7,500 Preferred 3, the class-climbing 3-5 favourite Alphabet Queen rushed to the lead at the :58.2 half-mile mark and kicked away from her competition with a :28.1 third quarter en route to establishing a new lifetime mark of 1:56.4. The four-year-old daughter of Vintage Master earned her third straight win. Solid Queen (Garrett Rooney) came on for second and Miss Brandi K (J Harris) finished third.
Brodhurst co-owns Ride Away Shark with Kimberley McNiven and shares ownership of Alphabet Queen with Scott McNiven.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.