Scratchin An Itch and Lauras Crush took opposite routes to victory as each won one of the two $10,400 conditioned pacing features on Tuesday, April 28 at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
Scratchin An Itch was sixth from the first bend to the stretch in the event for horses and geldings but dashed home to score in a seasonal-best 1:56.1. After missing the gate, Lorne House got the gelding in gear to secure the six-hole in front of Flash Cube (Guy Gagnon) heading into the opening turn. Ben Lookin (Andy Moore) provided early fractions of :27.2 and :56.2 before Volcanic (Damian MacLellan) left his spot in third to advance on the leader to three-quarters in 1:25.3, leading an outer flow that had Scratchin An Itch third-over. Scratchin An Itch swung four-wide at the bottom of the last turn, and he blasted to the top in a flash on the way to a 1-3/4-length win. Volcanic held on for second over Laser (Brady Galliers).
The winning son of Sunfire Blue Chip-Straightoutabuxton took his fifth win of the year in 13 starts and improved his career record to nine-for-49 with $87,158 in earnings. Scott McNiven trains the four-year-old homebred for owners Lenore and Eric Prince of North Buxton, Ont. The win price was $6.20.
Lauras Crush wired her distaff opponents in the other feature section and held off odds-on favourite Ladyterra for a career-best 1:55.3 victory. Austin Sorrie had her firing from post four, and after inside starter Expresso Beans (Brett MacDonald) strung them out on the first turn, Lauras Crush and Sorrie took control before the first station in :28. On an uncontested lead to the half in :57.4, Lauras Crush pulled away from the rest as she turned towards the backstretch and built her cushion to four lengths at three-quarters in 1:25.3.
Ladyterra (Samuel Fillion) emerged from the trailing group as they raced towards the homeward turn and sliced down the gap to Lauras Crush, racing just off her wheel at the top of the stretch. Ladyterra furthered her bid down the stretch but was unable to crack Lauras Crush, who hung on by a quarter-length in 1:55.3. Eckert Ally (Paul MacKenzie) was third.
Lauras Crush moved her 2026 tally to seven-for-13, and the Natalie Elliott trainee improved to 13-for-47 lifetime with $74,872 in earnings. Allan Shelton of Goderich, Ont. owns the four-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Haute Couture. Win tickets returned $12.70.
To view Tuesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)