On the shoulders of a packed card at The Raceway at Western Fair District on Wednesday, May 15, Major League N returned to the winner's circle in impressive fashion in the top class, the $11,600 Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace.
Controlling the timer, Major League N posted panels in :28.2, :58.2 and 1:26.3 before winning by two lengths in 1:55.2. Saulsbrook Olympia (Colin Kelly) finished second with Sweet Cheeseus (Todd Ratchford) third.
Ed and Ashleigh Hensley own the 11-year-old Gotta Go Cullen-Candlestick Park mare, who won her third race from 12 starts this year. In 165 career starts, Major League N has earned a record of 40-35-17 to go along with $389,135 banked. She paid $22.30 at 10-1 odds.
Following the Distaff Preferred were four races of the City Of London Series for Ontario-sired horses four-year-old and younger, with divisions for male pacers and female pacers. The City Of London Series is open to non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of midnight March 1, 2024. After the first leg for pacers contested on Wednesday, with divisions worth $8,000, the second leg is scheduled for Wednesday, May 22 with the $20,000 final scheduled for Friday, May 31 at the London, Ont. oval.
Cold Beer Calling ($8.50) was the first up to the plate in the first division for the horses and geldings. With Brett MacDonald in tow, the Darryl Laver student got away fourth through the opening panel in :27.4 before moving first over through the half in :58.2 and three-quarters in 1:27. At the top of the stretch, Cold Beer Calling achieved the lead and he fended off a stretch drive against All Bets On Red (Travis Henry) to win by a quarter length in 1:56.2. Jimmy Billie B (Tyler Borth) completed the triactor.
Rick Rier and Leanne Davidson co-own the sophomore Hes Watching-Mets N Jets gelding, who recorded his third win in 19 career starts.
La Sun Control ($3.90) took the second male division with Colin Kelly holding the lines for Rick Edwards. The four-year-old gelded son of Control The Moment-Sunbather sat fourth through panels in :28 and :57.3 before moving to the outside through the three-quarters in 1:25.4. He met pacesetting Rustys Bett (Henry) nose-to-nose in the final turn and the pair sprinted tandem towards the wire. In a photo finish, La Sun Control prevailed by a nose in 1:55. Farmers Beach (Jody Jamieson) completed the top three.
Edwards co-owns the winner of four races from six starts this year and seven races from 15 career starts with Michael Tam.
In the first division for the fillies and mares, Sauble Lila ($8.40) and Anthony Haughan got away third at the :28.2 first quarter, moved first over through the :58.3 half and 1:27.1 three-quarters, then charged home to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:56.1. Stilton Gold (Borth) took second and Acefortyfour Lady (Daryl Thiessen) completed the top three.
Otis Hall trains the daughter of State Treasurer-Performing Art for breeders Sauble Hill Farms and Nasussito Racing Inc. She won her sixth race from 10 career starts.
Think Ahead ($3.50) 'thought ahead' in her division of the City Of London Series for fillies and mares as she controlled the tempo through the mile. Posting panels in :29.3, :59.2 and 1:28.1, Garrett Rooney and the Robert McIntosh trainee won in 1:56.3 by 2-3/4 lengths over Wine Delight (Natasha Day) and Maple Shadow (Colin Kelly).
Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. owns the sophomore Thinking Out Loud-Ready Set Roll filly, who earned her second career victory from nine starts.
The first Prospect Series events of the season for Ontario-sired sophomore pacers were contested on Wednesday with four $8,000 divisions, two for the ladies and two for the lads. The Prospect Series is contested over five legs with the $15,000 final for three-year-olds hosted by Grand River Raceway on Friday, Sept. 27.
Jody Jamieson drove Carl Jamieson student Ireland Seelster ($2.70) to victory in the first split for the fillies and mares, a gate-to-wire triumph in 1:58 by a half length. Carl Jamieson, 1140545 Ontario Ltd., and Robert Edwards co-own the winning daughter of Sportswriter-I C Maggie May who earned her third career tally in 21 starts.
In race three's Prospect split, there was an accident involving four of the pacing fillies. Before the three-quarters, Rosean Tea (Tyler Borth) made a break and fell to the racetrack. Leavinwithasmile (Jason Ryan) and Pretty Missy May (Dale Spence) were unable to avoid while Crytel Shadow (Brett MacDonald) was charted with an interference break. After EMS paramedics examined Borth, Ryan and Spence, Borth and Spence were cleared to return to drive and Ryan was excused from driving.
Officials with Western Fair indicated that Rosean Tea had to be euthanized as a result of the accident.
Well Assessed ($2.60) won the second split for the girls as the pacesetter for the mile. Rooney and McIntosh teamed up again for the second gate-to-wire mile off panels in :29.1, :59.1 and 1:28 before fending off a charge from pocket-sitting Porch Pirate (Borth) to win by a neck in 1:57.4. The Sunshine Beach-Well Pondered filly is owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc. and Tyrone Valley Farm, and she picked up her third victory in eight lifetime starts.
Honolulu Vacation ($2.30) opened up the Prospect Series action for the colts and geldings with a gate-to-wire victory in 1:57.4 by 3-3/4 lengths. Michael Whelan provided the winning drive for trainer, owner and breeder Cody Hawkins. The sophomore Betterthancheddar-Luxury Vacation colt earned his first career win in seven starts.
Bettors Rush ($7) and Travis Henry completed the series action, waiting through panels in :28 and :58.1 before pulling first over en route to the three-quarters in 1:28.4. The Blake MacIntosh-trained gelding was still fourth in the final turn, but charged home to best Acefortyfour Duke (Brett MacDonald) at the wire by a neck in 1:58.2. The sophomore Bettors Delight-Sister Pippa gelding is owned by Hutt Racing Stable, Blake MacIntosh and Patrick Woods for his third win in 16 career starts.
Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Rosean Tea.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results - The Raceway at Western Fair District.
(Standardbred Canada)