Returning to the racetrack from a three month break after winning his season debut at the beginning of the year, veteran pacer Secret Weapon rallied from last to first in the $15,000 Preferred Pace on Wednesday at Western Fair
Raceway.
With Doug McNair in the bike, odds-on favourite Secret Weapon got away eighth and last but began to advance on the outside while Blissfull Breeze (Robert Sparling Jr.) applied pressure to pacesetter Donegal Gerald (Tony Kerwood). After leading the way past panels of :28, :58.1 and 1:26.2, Donegal Gerald gave way to his challenger but Secret Weapon closed well to steal the spotlight, stopping the clock in 1:56, a half-length ahead of Blissfull Breeze. Donegald Gerald was third.
Secret Weapon paid $6.50 to win. The Wayne Preszcator trainee, a son of Western Hanover-Falcons Secret, is now two-for-two in 2011 with $14,900 earned for the Secret Weapon Stables, Waterloo, Ont. The nine-year-old gelding recorded his 28th career win and boosted his bankroll to over $468,000 with the victory.
Earlier on the card in the $12,500 Preferred Trot, Don Mills Stakes winner Rudy Rocks also delivered on his pari-mutuel promise for driver Simon Allard and his brother, trainer Rene Allard.
Long Ago (Bruce Richardson) laid down fractions of :28.4, 1:00 and 1:29.4 while Rudy Rocks advanced first over from third. The four-year-old son of Striking Sahbra-Loblolly eventually wore down the leader for the one length score in 1:59.4. Long Ago was the runner-up with Just One Day (Ryan Holliday) angling wide to come on for third.
Rudy Rocks paid $4 to win. The gelding has finished first or second in half of his 10 seasonal starts to earn $60,850 of owners Rene Allard and Newfoundland’s Anne O’Keefe. The 10-time career winner now boasts over $152,000 in purse earnings.
For results from Wednesday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Wednesday Results – Western Fair Raceway.