A pair of $12,000 Preferreds highlighted the 10-race card on Tuesday, March 18 at The Raceway at Western Fair District, with Docsphillycheese delivering a front-end victory in the pace while Marvin Hagler was given more than a puncher's chance first-over en route to victory in the trot.
Docsphillycheese and driver Garrett Rooney left from the rail as the even-money choice in the feature pace. Rooney hustled the favourite to the front early, briefly relinquishing the lead to Colin Your Bluff (J Harris) before being right-lined at the quarter in :28.1. Docsphillycheese cleared prior to reaching the half in :58.1 before pressure came to the leader with It Takes Two (Lorne House) surging first-over. The pace quickened as Docsphillycheese held It Takes Two at bay by a half-length at three-quarters in 1:27.
Docsphillycheese retook first control on the far turn with It Takes Two dropping in the pocket for a tuck. It Takes Two took one more shot at the top of the lane while Beach Tour (Michael Horner) rallied late. However, Docsphillycheese was not to be caught, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55.3 over Beach Tour and It Takes Two.
Docsphillycheese has won two of six starts thus far in 2025. The six-year-old son of Betterthancheddar-Flight Of An Angel is trained by Brittany Kennedy, who co-owns the 25-time career winner along with Moneyclip Racing. Docsphillycheese now sports lifetime earnings of $166,019.
In the top-level trot, Marvin Hagler (pictured above) utilized a first-over blitz to land the knock-out blow with Austin Sorrie in the bike.
Sent away as the 2-5 favourite from post four, Sorrie secured a spot in third early while The Great Reset (Lorne House) cut the quarter in :28. The Great Reset had things his way to the half in :58 before Sorrie hustled the favourite first-over exiting the third turn. Momentum carried Marvin Hagler to the lead, clearing by a length at three-quarters in 1:28.1.
Marvin Hagler turned for home two lengths clear as The Great Reset tried to quicken from the pocket and April Duford (Tyler Borth) moved first-over. Once in the stretch, Marvin Hagler coasted home a winner, scoring by 1-1/4 lengths over April Duford in 1:58. The Great Reset held sway for the third position.
The victory was the first in seven outings this season for Marvin Hagler, who however has yet to miss the board in 2025 for trainer Mark MacQuarrie. The six-year-old gelded son of Crazed-Showmeyourmuscles boasts a career bankroll of $220,967 for MacQuarrie, who co-owns with Mary Pedden.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)