Trotter Kennel Buddy and pacing mare Shellace were victorious in a pair of Preferred 3s featured back-to-back on Wednesday night's harness racing card at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
Kennel Buddy, the 4-5 favourite and winner in his last two starts at the Preferred 3 level, defeated slight second choice Stormont Kate in the $7,500 trotting division for trainer David Dowling and owner Allan Neal.
Stormont Kate established the lead with the inside post advantage and cruised through fractions of :30, 1:00.3 and 1:29.3. Meanwhile, driver Travis Henry had tipped Kennel Buddy first up from third near the half. Despite Just One Day spoiling a two-hole trip when he broke stride on the backside, Kennel Buddy pressed on past the gapping pocket in pursuit of Stormont Kate and matched strides with the mare around the final turn. Those two took off in a two-horse breakaway down the stretch, with Kennel Buddy eventually getting by for the one length victory in 1:59.1. Longshot Oaklea Torpedo finished nearly six lengths behind in third.
Kennel Buddy, who now has six wins in 16 starts this year, pushed his career win count to 13 and lifetime earnings to $161,558. The five-year-old Ken Warkentin gelding paid $3.60 to win.
Next up, Donald Douglas' homebred Shellace prevailed off a pocket trip as the 9-2 fourth choice in the $8,300 Preferred 3 for pacing fillies and mares.
Sophomore filly Missy Tap Tina worked past Shellace through a :28.2 first quarter and carved out middle splits of :59 and 1:28 while keeping clear of 8-5 favourite Zip Car's first over advances. However, driver Lorne House pulled Shellace from the pocket heading into the stretch and rallied by the pacesetter with Cards That Count closing to their outside. With the jump start on the late-comer, Shellace prevailed by three-quarters of a length in 1:58.1. Missy Tap Tina settled for third.
Scott McNiven trains Shellace, who earned the second win of her nine-year-old campaign. The daughter of Aces N Sevens now boasts 26 career triumphs and earnings totalling $340,714. She returned $11.80 to her backers for a $2 win ticket.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair.