Despite parking the mile, Barrys Shelby landed a nose in front of pacesetter Hercule J M to take the $14,000 Wilson’s Tack Claiming Series Final at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Wednesday (April 6).
Hercule J M, the odds-on favourite, grabbed the lead from Tomitta Bayama to a :29.3 first quarter while driver Colin Kelly sat wide with Barrys Shelby out of post four. He rated the 10-year-old Mach Three gelding as he raced uncovered to a :59.4 half and to three-quarters in 1:29.1, though still within reach of Hercule J M. Off the final turn, the Lindsey Kerr trainee charged at Hercule J M and got the upper hand late over the “good” track to stop the clock in 2:00.2. Santanna Tony rallied from second over for third and Tomitta Bayama took fourth.
Owned by Ryan Clements and Ashley Kerr, Barrys Shelby won his third race from nine starts this season and his 29th from 257 overall, lifting his earnings to $238,289. He paid $13.40 to win.
R Bazingga also survived a first-over grind to take the $9,000 “A” Consolation for the Wilson’s Tack Claiming Series. The seven-year-old Real Artist gelding matched strides with pacesetter Debs New Man to a :28.4 first quarter and :58.2 half before losing ground on the leader to three-quarters in 1:27.3. However, the Victor Puddy trainee was resurgent off the bend and slid to a half-length win in 1:58.2 over Debs New Man with Rockin Novel finishing third and Mack The Knife taking fourth.
Owned by Limco Inc., R Bazingga won his third race from nine starts this season and his 26th from 132 career starts. Travis Henry piloted the $10.30 winner, who now sports $207,532 in lifetime earnings.
A pair of $7,000 “B” Consolations also went to post for the Claiming Series. Dinner At The Met ($5.70) posted a coast-to-coast victory in 1:59 in rein to Travis Cullen. Blueshoe Investments owns the 11-year-old Metropolitan gelding trained by Tyler Nostadt, who – including wins by Real Wicked ($3.90) and Southwind Bayou ($4.70) – completed a hat trick for the conditioner. Travis Cullen also piloted General Lee ($6.40) to a coast-to-coast victory in the other “B” Consolation, winning in 1:58.4. Kevin Skilton owns the seven-year-old Sportswriter gelding and Dwain Spitzig trains.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday’s Results – Western Fair Raceway.