The inaugural London Classic Sale Series got underway Monday, May 12 at The Raceway at Western Fair District, featuring eight $8,000 divisions for Ontario-sired female pacers and trotters. The evening’s fastest performances for each gait came from The Lies We Tell on the pace and Angel Fly Away on the trot.
Replacing the long-standing City of London Series, the London Classic Sale Series is open to Ontario-sired four-year-olds and younger who were non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of midnight, March 1, 2025. The series began with the filly and mare pace and trot divisions, while male pacers and trotters will compete in their first leg on Tuesday. Round two takes place next week, culminating in four $40,000 (guaranteed) divisional finals on Camluck Classic Night, Friday, May 30.
In the second pacing division, 4-5 favourite The Lies We Tell, with Damian MacLellan in the bike, tucked into the pocket behind Sadies Delight (Daryl Thiessen) through early fractions of :27.2 and :57.4. She launched a first-over move on the backside and battled stride for stride through three-quarters in 1:27.1. In the stretch, The Lies We Tell dug in gamely to win in 1:57.1 by three-quarters of a length. Sadies Delight held second, while Pass Code (Austin Sorrie) completed the top three.
A three-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight out of Sudden Passing, The Lies We Tell is trained by Kyle Bossence for Jesse Gebhardt of Hanover, Ont. The win marked her third of the season and career, increasing her 2025 earnings to $17,000 and lifetime bankroll to $19,000.
On the trotting side, the fastest division came in the third split, where 3-5 favourite Angel Fly Away and driver Sam Fillion made a strong first-over move to take control. After fractions of :29.1, 1:00.1 and 1:29.4, she powered away to win by 2-1/4 lengths in 1:58.3. Pier Ho Emerald (Daryl Thiessen) followed from the pocket to finish second, with Dont Chang My Naam (Jason Ryan) third.
Angel Fly Away, a three-year-old daughter of Archangel out of Pine Knolls, is trained by Julie Walker for owner Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, Ont. This was her second win of the year and career, boosting her seasonal earnings to $8,340 and lifetime total to $8,980.
Also victorious in the pacing divisions were Twin B Bodacious ($4.40), trained by Michael Rogers and driven by Daryl Thiessen; Sunnys Girl ($3.50) for trainer Matthew Dupuis, also with Thiessen in the bike; and Mai Tide ($2.10), driven by Dale Spence for trainer Ben Hollingsworth.
The remaining trotting divisions went to Kaylas Incharge ($5), trained by Vicki Gregg with Louis Gregg in the sulky; P C Sunshine Girl ($3.20), trained by Peter Clements and driven by Sam Fillion; and Alarming ($10.70), driven by Garrett Rooney for trainer Keith Jones.
To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - The Raceway at Western Fair District.
(Standardbred Canada)