The Friendship Pacing Series moved to Georgian Downs on Saturday night for the second round with driver James MacDonald sweeping both $12,000 divisions
.
Royal Becquet doubled up in the first split with a wire-to-wire effort, providing trainer Rene Allard with one of three wins on the 11-race card. The eight-year-old Yankee Cam-Steady Pebble gelding cruised to a 1:54.4 victory for Quebec owners Michel Allard and Nancy Lajeunesse. Western Tsunami (Robert Shepherd) finished over two lengths behind in second and pocket-sitter Doug And Dude (Aaron Byron) was third. The favourite paid $3.50 to win for the 31st time in his career. He now boasts career earnings of $478,295.
MacDonald also sent Primary Purpose down the road to score in the second tilt in 1:55. The five-year-old Cammibest-Sing Mitzi For Me gelding, who finished second in his first leg division, turned back first over challenger and eventual third place finisher Dark Prince (Billy David Jr.) and held off a late rush from the popular pocket-sitter Donegal Gerald (Tony Kerwood) to win by half a length. Rod Therres trains and co-owns the winner of 19 races and $437,079 lifetime with Charles Macfarlane of Victoria, B.C. He paid $7 to win as the 5-2 second choice.
The Friendship Pacing Series is for three-year-olds and up that are non-winners of $100,000 in 2010. The series will move back to Kawartha Downs next Saturday for the third leg and then return to Georgian Downs for the fourth leg on May 28. The $40,000 (added) final will be held at Kawartha on June 4.
For results from Saturday’s harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results – Georgian Downs.