Ryan Holliday and Rebel Voyager won going wire to wire in the $11,500 Preferred 2 Pace on Tuesday, April 10 at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Leaving from assigned-post six, Rebel Voyager left rapidly, leading the field through a :28.1 opening quarter while odds-on favourite Boomboom Ballykeel, from post seven, sat the pocket. Reel, positioned third, tipped first over moving into the stretch first time, drawing within a length of Rebel Voyager through a :58.2 half and continued to apply minor pressure through three-quarters in 1:25.4.
Boomboom Ballykeel, with room to angle as Jake Loewen gapped his cover second over, moved wide circling the final turn. Reel dropped into the vacated pocket spot as Boomboom Ballykeel chased Rebel Voyager into the stretch. Rebel Voyager held sway through the lane, winning by two-and-one-quarter lengths in 1:55. Boomboom Ballykeel finished second and Reel was third.
A four-year-old gelding by Shanghai Phil out of the No Pan Intended mare Pan Voyage, Rebel Voyager, owned by Icr Racing, won his fourth race in 11 starts this season and his 18th in 47 overall, collecting $108,914 in earnings. Trained by Dean Nixon, he paid $16.70 to win.
With a pocket trip, Ride Away Shark rallied to win as the longest shot on the board in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace, besting odds-on favourite Teachers Vet by a half length in 1:57.2.
The six-year-old Classic Card Shark mare sat behind pacesetter Teachers Vet as she posted splits of :29, :59, and 1:27.4 under little pressure on the engine. Having room to tip out as Selling The Dream faltered from a first-over bid, Ride Away Shark pursued the 3-5 choice through the stretch and edged by in the final strides. Teachers Vet was second while Pinky Tuscadero, riding the rail, finished third.
Owned by Kimberley McNiven and Tom Brodhurst, Ride Away Shark, returning $40.10 to win, was driven by Travis Henry for trainer Scott McNiven. Winning her second race in six starts this season and her 17th in 116 overall, she has amassed $283,780 in earnings.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.