Colin Kelly piloted Sr Beach Babe, sent to post as the 8-5 favourite, to a three-quarter length victory in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Handicap on Tuesday, April 3 over a 'sloppy' track at The Raceway At Western Fair District.
Drivingthedragon N set the pace early, going a :29.4 opening quarter and slowing to the half, timed in 1:00.2. Sr Beach Babe, fifth at the quarter, flushed first over into the lane first time and drew alongside the leader through the backstretch final time. Leading narrowly by three-quarters in 1:28.4, Sr Beach Babe overtook Drivingthedragon N but dealt with pressure from Howmacfiesty left uncovered turning into the stretch. A half length separated the two at the top of the stretch, but Sr Beach Babe gained a slightly wider advantage at the line. Ride Away Shark, shuffled to last, moved through the inside to take third.
A five-year-old mare by Oaks Enforcer out of the Jennas Beach Boy mare Sand On The Beach, Sr Beach Babe, owned by Steve Mihalic, won her third race in 11 starts this season and her 17th in 95 overall, earning $141,090. Trained by Craig Gilmour, she paid $5.40 to win.
Selling The Dream charged at pacesetter War Filly from first over to win the $8,900 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace by a length going a mile and a sixteenth as the even-money favourite in 2:05.
Sitting third through a :26.4 quarter, Selling The Dream stalked as War Filly edged past Miss Brandi K to take the lead. Driver Bruce Richardson angled the five-year-old mare by Badlands Hanover off the rail turning into the stretch first time and advanced uncovered after War Filly through a :58.2 half.
Taking a narrow lead by three-quarters in 1:28, Selling The Dream extended to a two-length lead turning into the stretch, coasting to the line as Alphabet Queen closed at the rail for second, with Cayo Loco tracking her to take third.
Owned by Donald and Sheila Murray, Selling The Dream, trained by Dean Wall, won her second race in eight starts this season and her 12th in 52 starts overall, earning $153,157. She paid $4.00 to win.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.