The first five races of Wednesday’s card of racing at The Raceway at Western Fair District were dedicated to claiming pacers who did battle in the opening leg of the Wilson’s Tack Claiming Series, and favourites did quite well in their respective $7,000 assignments.
Veteran pacer Mister X struck first thanks in large part to the pocket trip which was mapped out by driver Brett MacDonald. The 11-year-old son of Mister Big-Maddam Luck tracked Hello You through fractions of :27.3 and :57.1 before popping to the outside and brushing to the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:27.3. He only needed a closing panel clocked in :32 to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Hello You in 1:59.4. Mack The Knife was third.
Tyler Nostadt trains the gelding for Blueshoe Investments of Baltic, OH. The career winner of close to $300,000 won for the third time this season and for the 56th time in his career.
Coin Flip, who was the even-money choice in the second division, survived a first-over journey for driver Colin Kelly and managed to win in going-away fashion.
The five-year-old son of Royal Mattjesty-Double Flip tucked in third while Oakrock Eldorado fired to the front and laid down an opening quarter clocked in :29.1. Kelly had his charge first over on the way to the half, and they kept digging while racing parked through middle panels of :59.3 and 1:29.2. Oakrock Eldorado backed away in the late going while Coin Flip used a :30.1 closing panel to win by 5-1/2 lengths over Arsenal De Chafra in 1:59.3. Deputy Seelster rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Martin Kuepfer of Elmwood, ON owns the Jonathan Panos trainee who is now 3-for-9 this season. The seven-time winner, who was then claimed from the winning effort, pushed his lifetime earnings over $30,000 with the triumph.
Sent off as the 4-5 choice in the next division, Hercule J M blasted to the top and could not be caught in his $7,000 assignment.
Travis Cullen marched the Tyler Nostadt trainee to the lead from Post 6 and together they sped through fractions of :29, 1:00 and 1:29.3 before using a :29.4 final frame to win by three lengths over Rockin Novel in 1:59.2. Taking home third prize was Barrys Shelby.
Blueshoe Investments of Baltic, OH owns the 17-time winner who now boasts a 4-2-2 record from just 10 trips to the track this season. He’s banked more than $110,000 to date.
Rough Trade used his rallying skills to capture the fourth division for driver Colin Kelly.
The 10-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Diamond Jubilee watched Eatams Sportsbaby take charge through fractions of :29.1, 1:01 and 1:31.2 before storming home in :29.3 to win by a head over R Bazingga in 2:01.3. Taking home third prize after coming up a neck short for the win was Rough Trade.
Trainer Kayla Hendry shares ownership on the 1-2 favourite with partner Brad Doyle of Peterborough. The 10-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Diamond Jubilee posted the win for Tyler Nostadt. The pacer was sent to new connections following a claim from the winning effort. The $3,500 payday brings his lifetime earnings to $112,479. He was claimed by new connections from the winning effort.
As for Hendry, the moment will go down as a memorable one since it was her first lifetime score as a trainer.
Santanna Tony gave Tyler Nostadt a training triple on the card thanks to his 2:00.2 decision in the fifth – and final – division offered on the card.
Nathan Sobey sat a pocket trip with the nine-year-old son of Santanna Blue Chip-Rapid Melody who studied front-stepping General Lee through fractions of :28.1 and :57.3. Sobey hustled his charge first-over in the backstretch, and they quickly powered to the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:28.2. A closing panel clocked in :32 was enough for the gelding to win by three lengths over Myinsidevoice in 2:00.2. Tomitta Bayama rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Blueshoe Investments of Baltic, OH own the veteran who won for the second time this season and for the 22nd time in his career. His bankroll currently sits at $136,306.
Tyler Nostadt went on to add one more win on the card thus bringing his nightly win total to four thanks to a tenth race triumph with Southwind Bayou in 1:59. His barn has produced 35 wins from 101 starters and that translated into a lofty UTR of .456.
To view results for Wednesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Wednesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.