Although she was bet down to 2-5 by the wagering public, the John Chappell-trained and driven Tough It Out had to live up to her name in order to secure a victory the $35,000 Marion Young Memorial on Sunday (April 14) at Fraser Downs.
And live up to her name she did.
Chappell and the three-year-old daughter of Blue Burner lined up in Post 2 for the Sunday tilt, which comprised of an eight-pack of sophomore pacing fillies.
Tough It Out got away fourth early as spirited ‘leavers’ were quickest off the switch. Feel So Close (who was driven by Kelly Hoerdt) wanted the front early and was first down to the quarter pole in :28.1 over the ‘fast’ track.
Tough It Out wasn’t having much of the early outcome, though, as Chappell had his student out and racing first-up from fourth while the opening station was being clicked off.
Hoerdt and Feel So Close weren’t in the mood to just give up the engine, as they made Tough It Out pay a bit of a price for the top. Hoerdt would go on to relent, and released Tough It Out to the point just prior to the half-mile pole, which was passed in :57.1.
The rest of the field didn’t allow Tough It Out to get loose on the lead once she cleared, as attackers (Machazulu, driven by Scott Knight, and Crystal Dragon, driven by Paul Davies) came calling in the third quarter. With a name like Tough It Out and the public’s full support behind her, Chappell’s pupil wasn’t going to go down without a fight.
Tough It Out continued on with her business early in the final quarter, and it appeared to be enough to repel her foes. She opened up a bit of daylight through the stretch and was well in hand. Chappell geared his charge down just a bit in the final moments of the contest, as the outcome wasn’t in doubt at that point.
Tough It Out was first under the wire in a life’s-best 1:57.1.
Feel So Close – who was also aptly named, in this respect – finished second for Hoerdt and bottomed out the exactor. Hotpieceoface, who had raced third on the inside for much of the mile, filled out the triactor for pilot Anthony Succarotte.
Tough It Out has now recorded three wins, two seconds and three thirds from nine lifetime starts, good for $46,150 in purse earnings. She is now unbeaten to start her sophomore campaign (two starts) and has banked $20,900 thus far in ’19.
Tough It Out is a homebred of Evert Vandenborn, of Langley, BC.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Fraser, click the following link: Sunday Results – Fraser Downs.