Katherine B earned her first victory of the season on Wednesday night (April 20) as she fended off slight favourite Pinky Tuscadero in the $7,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Driven by Alfie Carroll, Katherine B ($5.20) established the lead from post three and led the field through fractions of :28.3, :58.1 and 1:27.1 while WEG invader Pinky Tuscadero moved up on even terms after an early move from third. However, Katherine B fought back through the stretch and persevered over the pesky Pink Tuscadero by a neck in 1:56.2. Amazing Control followed one length behind in third.
The win was Katherine B's first in 14 starts this year, although she has earned cheques in all but one of those outings. The seven-year-old daughter of Western Ideal, a career winner of 20 races and $147,841, is trained by Gord McDonnell and owned by E. Thomas Knight of South Woodslee, Ont.
One race prior in the $8,400 fillies and mares conditioned pace, Nadia Can Go ($3.60) earned her eighth win in a row, equalling her season's mark of 1:57.4 that she had established in her last start two weeks ago in London.
Garrett Rooney sent the four-year-old Major In Art mare from third to first at the :28.1 quarter pole and cruised through middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.3 en route to the one and three-quarter length victory for trainer Heather Toll and owner Brydown Farms Inc. of Clinton, Ont. All The Ladies and Sports Expert advanced in the outer flow and completed the top three finish order.
Nadia Can Go is now nine-for-11 in 2016 -- with all of her wins earned at Western Fair -- and is tied with pacing mare Lucky Cocktail for most victories so far this year in Canada.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.