After failing to hit the board in last week’s Preferred 2 for horse and gelding pacers at The Raceway at Western Fair District, Bestofthebunch bounced back and took all the marbles in Monday’s $11,000 follow-up attempt.
It was the fourth win of the campaign for the 19-time winner. He’s put away more than $25,000 in earnings this season, and more than $140,000 to date. The five-year-old son of Artistic Fella-Terinas Best is owned by Boris Laus of South Woodslee, Ont.
Bestofthebunch was forced to survive a brutal trip en route to securing the neck decision in the featured tilt. Scott Coulter was parked through panels of :28.1, :58 and 1:27 with the Tim Myers pupil, who then used a :32-second closing quarter to seal the deal in 1:59 over Tomitta Bayama and Kendal Gustav.
Earlier on the card, Charmbo Orbit rallied to a two-length triumph in the $8,300 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers. Bruce Richardson treated the gelding to a ground-saving journey for most of the mile before rallying him to the lead in the late stages of the contest. The homebred used a :29.2 kicker to defeat Stonebridge Scout in 2:00 over a track rated “Sloppy”. Taking home third prize was the odds-on favourite, Stoney Durkin.
Bred, owned and trained by Jack Rier of Kitchener, Ont., the five-year-old son of Mach Three-Pretty Bo has already surpassed last year’s purse haul. The 11-time winner put away just over $20,000 in 2015, but he’s already managed to bank in excess of $22,000 this season.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.