Emerald Rihanna did all the work on the front end and defeated her filly and mare foes in the featured $10,000 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace on Wednesday night (March 23) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
With the inside post advantage, Emerald Rihanna and driver Nick Steward established the lead during a 29.2 first quarter and stole a second quarter breather en route to the half in 1:01.3. She then began to draw away from her competition on top past three-quarters in 1:30.1 and cruised home for the two and a half length triumph in 1:58.4 over the 'good' track. The seven-year-old Lis Mara mare paid $13.40 to win. Favourites Insincerity and Ride Away Shark closed for the second and third-place honours in a field that was scratched down to five starters.
Emerald Rihanna is now five-for-nine this year for owner and trainer Colonel Schneider Jr. of Arthur, Ont. The victory was her 15th lifetime and pushed her earnings over the $100,000 mark.
In other action, driver Ryan Holliday bounced back quickly after being involved in a spill on Tuesday night at The Raceway with a victory in this evening's opener aboard the maiden-breaking sophomore filly Krystal C. Holliday catch-drove the Gregg McNair-trained Sportswriter filly, whose leading margin extended into the double-digits before she stopped the clock in 2:02.3. Holiday bookended the program with wins, as he also took the finale with Stephen and Marilyn Gillard's homebred pacing mare Shes Dignified.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.