After delivering back-to-back beatdowns to claiming foes at Woodbine Racetrack, Good Friend took his show on the road to Georgian Downs on Tuesday and upset Preferred rivals for trainer Corey Johnson
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Good Friend, who is now 3-for-3 since being scooped out of a $15,000 claimer on April 1, survived a first-over trip for driver Anthony MacDonald en route to posting a head victory over Canbec Fridolin in the $15,000 featured event.
Race favourite Sarkozy shot the lead and supplied the field with an opening quarter of :27.2. He was still in command at the half in :56.2, but Good Friend was commencing his rally. Sarkozy tripped the teletimer at the three-quarter pole in 1:25, with Good Friend just a neck away on the outside. Good Friend’s :29.4 final frame was enough to post the narrow decision over Canbec Fridolin, with Groom Hanover rounding out the top three finishers.
Sent off at odds of 10-1, Good Friend improved his 2012 record to 4-0-2 in 10 tries while pushing his seasonal earnings to $33,394. The career winner of $246,040 is owned by Daniel Mitchell of Novi, MI.
Tuesday’s program also included an eye-catching victory by Machal Jackson in a $12,000 conditioned event. The four-year-old son of Mach Three-Warrawee Cammy went wire-to-wire in 1:50.3 – the nation’s fastest mile of the season on a five-eighth’s mile oval.
With J.R. Plante at the lines, the gelding was parked beyond the quarter pole by Good Bad Lucky in :26.4 before crossing down to the pylons and chopping out middle splits of :54.4 and 1:22.2. Machal Jackson uncorked a :28.1 closing panel to win by 5-1/2 lengths over Good Bad Lucky, with third prize earned by a well-beaten Grand Master.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the Isaac Waxman-trained pacer won for the fourth time this season and for the seventh time in his career. Brenda Selwyn Waxman of Dundas and Yin Yee Wong of Oakville, ON share ownership on the speedball who pushed his overall cash stash to $364,581 in the process.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Georgian Downs.