Monday’s card at The Raceway at The Western Fair District was chock full of Preferreds with pacers and trotters battling in a quartet of those affairs on the 12-race card.
Long Ago was a front-stepping winner in the $13,200 Preferred Handicap for the tandem of driver Bruce Richardson and trainer/co-owner John Holding of Campbellville, ON. The eight-year-old son of Duke Of York-Hope Floats sped through panels of :29, :59.4 and 1:28.4 before coasting home in :31.1 to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Logans Hero in 2:00. Just Like Lloyd, who was sent off as the 3-2 favourite, had to settle for the show dough.
Sent off at odds of 3-1, Long Ago won for the third time this season and for the 34th time in his career. Bryan Montgomery of Fergus, ON shares ownership on the career winner of $376,256.
One race later it was Watermelonwine using off-the-pace tactics to take home top prize in the $13,200 Preferred for pacers. Jason Brewer picked up second-over cover for the Dave Menary pupil who brushed to the lead at the three-quarter pole and won comfortably by a length over Judge Jon in 1:55.4. Royal Outlook rounded out the top three finishers in the eight-horse affair.
Brad Gray of Dundas, ON owns the five-year-old son of Life Sign-Arukiddinme, who now boasts a career bankroll of $423,840. The 14-time winner has notched three of those wins this season.
Brewer also found his way to the winner’s circle with Audreys Dream in the $8,400 Preferred 2 for pacers. The five-year-old son of Rocknroll Hanover-Belovedangel used come-from-behind tactics to win by 1-1/4 lengths over General Manager in 1:57.1. Race favourite Mach It Big had to settle for the bronze medal.
Ben Wallace trains the winning gelding for owner Brad Grant of Milton, ON. It was the second win of the season and the 12th to date for the career winner of $195,096.
Indiana Hall, who was named the oval’s Older Trotting Horse of the Year in 2012, wired up the foes he faced in the $8,400 Preferred 2 for the square gaiters. The 10-year-old son of Striking Sahbra-Inverlochy led the field through intervals of :29, 1:00 and 1:30.2 before scooting home in :30.1 to seal the deal by a half-length margin over P C Firecracker in 2:00.3. Heres The Magic, who did the first-over work, held on to finish third.
Sent off as the even-money choice, the Ian Downey pupil took the checkered flag for the first time this season while pushing his lifetime win tally to 56. The career winner of $829,102 is owned by S S G Stables of North Boston, NY.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at The Western Fair District.