Driver Doug McNair worked out a perfect pocket trip aboard millionaire pacer Aracache Hanover to capture the $38,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack on Saturday night
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Jody Jamieson fired inside assignee Ideal Choice to command off the gate with Post 2 starter Aracache Hanover and McNair following their lead through fractions of :27.1, :55.3 and 1:23.3 before pulling the pocket into the stretch. Aracache Hanover wore down his fellow 2-1 co-favourite with an eighth of a mile to go and pulled clear for the one and a half length victory in 1:51.1. Ideal Choice stayed for second while early trailer St Elmos Hero and Scott Zeron came on for third.
Aracache Hanover paid $6.20 to win. Gregg McNair trains the Dragon Again-Armbro Cachet five-year-old, who won for the second (consecutive) time in six seasonal starts. The 18-time career winner with over $1.1 million banked is owned by William Switala and James Martin of Clarence Center, New York.
In other streaking action, Clic K recorded his third straight off the claim for trainer Ben Wallace and sixth in a row with a 1:50.2 career-best effort in his seventh race conditioned-claiming assignment.
Driven by Jamieson, the four-year-old Shanghai Phil-Eclatante gelding left from post eight to establish the early lead and played give and go through early fractions of :26.1 and :54.2 as the parked out Facebook and McNair swept to command and Clic K re-took.
Clic K opened up four and a half lengths en route to the 1:22.1 third quarter station and then motored home to a two and a half length triumph over Musslesfrombrussels and Lyle MacArthur. Mach Wheel, driven by Paul MacDonell, finished seven and a half lengths back in third.
Clic K paid $3.30 to win as the heavy 3-5 favourite. He is owned by Bradley Grant of Milton, Ont. and Holland Racing Stable Inc. of Aurora, Ont.
Holland Racing Stable and Wallace claimed Alberta's Horse of the Year Silver Eagle for $75,000 from the race. The Western Canada Pacing Derby inherited seventh place after being interfered with in his Ontario debut from post 10 for former owners Joe Tinelli and Shir Win Racing Stables.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.