Sr Beach Babe survived a first-over journey to wear down pacesetter Kayla Grace in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Handicap Pace featured on Wednesday night (April 12) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
Catch-driver J Harris sent Sr Beach Babe on the attack from mid-pack at the three-eighths mark and pursued race leader Kayla Grace (:28.1, :57.4, 1:26.1) into the homestretch, where she surged by to score the victory in 1:55.3 by one and a quarter lengths. Kayla Grace held second for Billy Davis Jr., while the late-closers fanned out wide turning for home with odds-on favourite Greystone Ladylike and Alfie Carroll taking third ahead of Top Royal and Robert Shepherd.
Sent postward at odds of 8-1, Sr Beach Babe returned $19.80 for a $2 Win ticket.
Western Fair's leading trainer Craig Gilmour conditions the four-year-old daughter of Oaks Enforcer for owner Steve Mihalic of Burlington, Ont. Sr Beach Babe has won half of her six starts since being claimed in mid-February by Mihalic for $22,000 at Woodbine Racetrack.
Wednesday's $7,500 Preferred 3 went to 10-1 shot Solid Queen in 1:57.3. Garrett Rooney drove the seven-year-old Riverboat King mare for trainer Keith Cullen and owner Dwayne Soulliere of Belle River, Ont.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair.
For the official judges' report from Wednesday's card, click the following link: Judges' Report - Western Fair - April 12.