Off to a perfect start at the Marquis Downs meet, West Coast Beach made it three wins in a row in the Open Handicap Pace as he held off Appoggiatura on Sunday afternoon (May 15).
Glenn Le Drew drove the five-year-old Sunshine Beach-Village Janus gelding to victory in the co-featured $3,900 top class for trainer Robert Smith and owners Timothy Gordon or Spruce Grove, Alta. and Rebecca Kanak of Saskatoon, Sask.
After opening panels of :29.3. and :59 in the three-horse race, favourite West Coast Beach was challenged for the lead by the pocket-popping Appoggiatura (Clayton Braybrook) as they raced by three-quarters in 1:27.2 but held on to prevail by a half-length in 1:59 flat. The runner-up's Braybook stablemate, Tagoras (Rick Schneider), finished 1-1/4 lengths behind in third.
A career winner nearly $140,000, West Coast Beach has earned four of his 14 victories this year through 13 starts.
Pure Addition was a repeat winner in the matching Fillies & Mares Open Handicap for driver Tyler Grundy and trainer Jacqueline Grundy.
The six-year-old daughter of Riverboat King-China Art led all the way through panels of :29, 1:00:3 and 1:31.2 before hitting the wire in 1:59.3, one length in front of I Will Do It (Blake Piwniuk). The winner's stablemate, A Cowboys Dream (Glenn Le Drew), completed the field, finishing a dozen lengths in arrears.
Pure Addition is owned by Aurel Vodon of Virden, Man. A six-figure money-winner, she notched her ninth triumph of the season from 13 starts and 28th victory lifetime.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Marquis Downs.