Going by current NHL form, pacer Leafs And Wings was more Wings than Leafs in Tuesday night's $11,000 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair.
Scott Wray had favoured Leafs And Wings sitting some seven lengths back of the field as three pacers -- Kendal Gustav, Stoney Durkin and Mach It Big -- had some daylight on the field by the opening :27.2 quarter. Lorne House was able to get a breather for Kendal Gustav on the front with a half in :58.1, but the pace was about to pick up.
Robert Shepherd launched a first-over bid with Mach It Big from the three hole just past the opening half. Wray pulled Leafs And Wings out from fourth and didn't catch Shepherd's helmet until the 1:27.2 third split. Around the final turn, Wray asked Leafs And Wings for another gear and he responded when shown the three path in the stretch for a one and a quarter length score in 1:58.1. Kendal Gustav and Mach It Big completed the triactor.
Michael Rogers trains eight-year-old Leafs And Wings (Rambaran-Rockton Road), a homebred owned by Greg Rogers of Auburn Hills, Mich. The win was the stallion's 31st lifetime to accompany purse earnings totalling $369,589.
To view the results from Western Fair's Tuesday night card, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair.