Driver Bob McClure landed Brady Bunch on the front and never turned back, taking the $13,000 Preferred 2 Trot at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Wednesday (March 31).
Leaving from post 4, Brady Bunch secured the top to a :28.2 opening quarter with Willyorwonthe settling into the pocket and 6-5 favourite Veyron racing third. As the tempo slowed to a :59 half, Veyron ventured overland to press Brady Bunch with a lap to go. Brady Bunch kept Veyron only at his wheel when accelerating to three-quarters in 1:27.3 and maintained control through the stretch in progress to a one-and-a-half length win in 1:58. Veyron finished second with Willyorwonthe third.
A five-year-old gelding by Muscle Mass, Brady Bunch won his ninth race from 30 starts, earning $214,447. Jacques Dupont trains the $7.10 winner for owners Les Ecuries Dorleans Inc., Mario Bourgea, Gestion Levesque 2005inc. and Ecurie CSL.
Betting favourite Red Hot Torch also put forward a wire-to-wire effort in taking the co-featured $10,000 Preferred 3 Trot. The five-year-old Angus Hall gelding took the lead to a :29.1 opening quarter and faced little challenge from there. With middle fractions of 1:01 and 1:31, Red Hot Torch strolled to the finish one-and-three-quarter lengths better than Pollar Hall in a 2:01 mile. Pocket-sitter Heineken Seelster finished third.
Owned by 1187422 Ontario Inc., Red Hot Torch won his 12th race from 60 starts, earning $93,208. Jason Ryan trains and drives the $4.20 winner.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.