Tajmeallover notched her first win of the year as she prevailed in a photo finish in the $11,000 Fillies & Mares Open Pace to kick off the Good Friday (March 25) card of harness racing at Century Downs Racetrack and Casino.
With the inside post advantage, Jet Hot Stuff (Ed Hensley) established the lead off the gate while American Passion (David Kelly), starting just to her outside, was rough-gaited at the start and ended up trailing the five-horse field early on. However, Nighttraintovegas (Nathan Sobey) looped the early leader just after the :29.4 first quarter and fronted the field past the half-mile mark in :58.2 in search of her second straight victory in this class following a 42-1 upset last time out on March 12.
Meanwhile, Tajmeallover followed along in third-place before driver and co-owner J.F. Gagne was forced to make his move down the backstretch as American Passion progressed from the back of the pack. Tajmeallover applied first over pressure to Nighttraintovegas as they raced by three-quarters in 1:27.3 and then took over the lead into the stretch.
Jet Hot Stuff was able to tip out wide and pursued Tajmeallover down the stretch to make it a photo finish. However, Tajmeallover managed to hold on by a head for the 1:56.4 victory over the 'good' track. Sing Like An Angel (Travis Cullen), the 4-5 favourite, came on for third after being shuffled to the back of the pack during the third panel. Nighttraintovegas finished fourth and American Passion completed the finish order.
Tajmeallover paid $5.80 to win as the second betting favourite after hitting the board in three previous tries to start her five-year-old campaign.
Marjorie Dumont trains the homebred Tajma Hall-Watch Over Me mare for Gagne and partners Peter Van Seggelen and Carl Warnaar. Tajmeallover now boasts top three finishes in 26 of her 29 career starts, including 16 wins.
In other action the Century Downs Racing Club debuted Warrawee Rap, who rallied three-wide down the backstretch and was just edged out at the wire to finish second in rein to Philip Giesbrecht. Gerry Hudon trains the maiden sophomore filly for a group of over 50 new shareholders. The race was won by 4-5 favourite Outlawsurshotshark (1:58.4), one of five winners on the day for the meet-leading Travis Cullen stable.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Century Downs.