Three-wide for most of the mile after blowing the first turn, R U Machin Me persevered to bail out his 1-5 backers in an impressive victory over the half-mile London, Ont. oval at the Western Fair District on Tuesday night (March 8).
Driven by Alfie Carroll, the heavy favourite R U Machin Me quickly recovered from his first turn bobble that occurred as he left from post two and raced outside of Rightinthekisser (Billy Davis Jr.) and insider HS Mako (Lorne House) through fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:27.4. R U Machin Me then pulled away into the turn and won by nearly six lengths in 1:58.1. Late-closers Distinctiv Cam (J Harris) and Dutch Seelster (Scott Wray) rounded out the top three finishers.
The class was a regular $10,000 claiming-conditioned pace, but the effort put forth by the Victor Puddy trainee was something of a rarity.
"I can't say that I've ever seen a horse do that on a half-mile track in my 35 years at the races and I'm pretty sure I won't see it happen again in my lifetime," noted track announcer Shannon 'Sugar' Doyle.
The four-year-old Mach Three gelding earned his first win of the year. He was recently acquired by Keith Cassell of Smiths Falls, Ont., claimed for $12,500 on Jan. 21 at Woodbine Racetrack. Tuesday's victory was just his third lifetime from 32 starts and the winner's share of the $5,700 purse bumped his bankroll to $42,920.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.