Jim and Jean Caddey's homebred pacing mare Greystone Ladylike was a trendy wire-to-wire winner in Wednesday evening's early feature, the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Pace, at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
Returning to the races after more than a month off, Greystone Ladylike led through fractions of :27.3, :57.2 and 1:25.3 en route to a 1:54.2 victory in rein to Alfie Carroll. The Brent Belore trainee held off the 1-2 favoured first-over challenger, Top Royal (Colin Kelly), by three-quarters of a length while pocket pursuer Miss Coco Luck (Billy Davis Jr.) followed just over two lengths behind in third.
Sent postward as the 4-1 second choice in the wagering, Greystone Ladylike paid $10.20 to win.
The eight-year-old Stonebridge Regal-Lady Courtalisa mare surpassed the half-million dollar mark in career earnings with the victory, which was her third this year and 31st lifetime.
She and stablemate Buttons were among the first five front-end winners on Wednesday night's card, but that trend ended for the back-half of the program during which John Smith Jr.'s homebred mare Regal Luck closed off cover turning for home to win the $7,500 Preferred 3 in 1:55.4, returning $11 to her backers. Paul MacKenzie drove the seven-year-old mare, who is also a daughter of Stonebridge Regal, out of Lapidarys Luck. Hex (Carroll) also closed well to finish second and the 6-5 popular pacesetter, Cant Stop (Bob McClure), ended up third.
To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.
For the official judges' report from Wednesday's card, click the following link: Judges' Report - Western Fair - May 17.