After an extended first-over grind to the top, Rebel Voyager ($11.00) had enough saved up in deep stretch to keep odds-on favourite National Debt half a length at bay in Tuesday’s (March 6) featured $11,500 Preferred 2 for pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Rebel Voyager took no part in making the early pace, well rated in mid-division by Scott Coulter as Avatartist (Mike Saftic) and Its a Big Secret (Colin Kelly) threw down in a :27.3 first-quarter duel. As Avatartist continued on to reach race’s midpoint in :56.4, Rebel Voyager commenced his first-over ascent, prompting Sure Please (Ryan Holliday)—who led the second flight from third spot—to take closer order from 3-1/2 lengths out of second on the clubhouse turn.
Rebel Voyager hit another gear upon straightening up the far side, taking third from Sure Please as soon as that rival closed the gap behind the top pair and continuing on to head Avatartist with just over a quarter mile remaining. The four-year-old Shanghai Phil gelding had no trouble putting Avatartist away on approach to the final turn, but his main danger, National Debt (Louis-Philippe Roy), was uncorking a rally from astern. National Debt spun three-wide off the far turn and lifted well off the corner for home, but Rebel Voyager rose to the challenge and held sway for a 1:55.2 victory, his second straight and the 16th of his career. National Debt, who bore out significantly in the final sixteenth, held second by 1-1/4 lengths over Saulsbrook Peach (Robert Shepherd).
Dean Nixon trains the ICR Racing homebred Rebel Voyager, who made a return trip to the winner’s enclosure after wiring Preferred 3 company at Flamboro Downs on Feb. 25.
In the sub-featured $9,000 Preferred 3 for distaff pacers, Donald and Sheila Murray's Selling The Dream
($29.30) sustained a first-over push past breaking favourite Ride Away Shark before holding off a sustained challenge from the second-over Howmacfiesty (J Harris) to prevail in 1:59.3. Ryan Holliday drove the five-year-old Badlands Hanover mare for trainer Dean Wall.
To view Tuesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.