It’s been a while since anything with the word ‘Leafs’ in it has savoured a victory, but pacer Leafs And Wings enjoyed a blowout win during Monday’s 12-race card at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
The seven-year-old son of Rambaran-Rockton Road crushed the foes he faced in the $11,000 Preferred-2 by an eight-length margin in a flashy clocking of 1:56.2 for the tandem of Scott Wray and trainer Mike Rogers.
Sent off at odds of 7-2, Leafs And Wings worked his way to the lead shortly past the quarter pole in Monday’s tilt before brushing to the top well before the half. He hit the mid-way point in :58.2 and then the three-quarter marker in 1:27.1 before turning on the jets and using a :29.1 closing panel to win in going away fashion. Amazon Art rallied from last and wound up second, while Mach It Big was third.
Gregory Rogers of Auburn Hills, Michigan bred and owns the 26-time winner who improved this year’s record to 3-3-2 from 11 trips to the track with the win. The veteran is quickly closing in on $300,000 in lifetime earnings.
A set of $7,000 Preferred-2 events were also contested on Monday’s card, with All Chrome and CIS Buckeye taking home top honours in their respective assignments.
All Chrome took over the lead past the half in the $7,000 Preferred-2 for pacers, and he cruised to an easy triumph in 1:58.1 for driver Trevor Henry. The margin of victory was 2-1/4 lengths over Button Up, with Creighton Hanover another two lengths back in third.
Corey Johnson trains the five-year-old son of Tell All-Ever Western for owner Brian Paquet of Quebec. The gelding, who was sent off as the 7-5 choice, has put together a 4-for-7 record this season and an 11-for-44 record to date. He managed to stash away earnings in excess of $55,000 in the process.
The $7,000 Preferred-3 trot went to CIS Buckeye, who survived a first-over journey to win by 4-3/4 lengths in 2:01.3. Alfie Carroll mapped out the winning trip for the Keith Cullen trainee, who defeated Jamigo and Just One Day.
The six-year-old son of Ilooklikemymom-LRs Peanut now boasts a 2-2-2 record from 10 starts this season. The 28-time winner, who is owned by James Morency of Windsor, Ontario, has banked $147,146 to date.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – Western Fair.