Anthony MacDonald reached a career milestone amid City of London Series action on Friday evening (May 18) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.
MacDonald crossed the finish line in first-place for the 3,000th time in his driving career aboard 1-5 favourite Paythelinebluechip ($2.40) in the third race for claiming fillies and mares.
After getting away second behind the quick-leaving Santannas Bullet, MacDonald looped to the lead aboard the Kevin McMaster-trained Paythelinebluechip at the :28.1 quarter pole. The three-year-old Rock N Roll Heaven filly then led through middle splits of :58.4 and 1:28.4 and held off the closers to score by a neck in 1:58.4. Sally De Vie got up for second over Santannas Bullet and Watt Machs Me Win.
The Guelph, Ont. horseman, who operates TheStable.ca with his wife Amy, owns Paythelinebluechip with partners Pamela Schott, Edward Daniels and Burt Newman.
Prior to MacDonald's feat, the City of London Series for male trotters began with the first two $7,000 eliminations.
Sicario ($2.70) led gate-to-wire in 2:00.4 for the father-son team of trainer John Bax and driver Matt Bax. The three-year-old Holiday Road gelding out of millionairess Gypsy Balance is owned by the Bax Stable and breeder Dave Hudson. Just Jewel and Direct Route finished second and third, respectively.
In the second elimination, Daylon Phantom ($3.20) romped to a seven-length, maiden-breaking score in 2:01.2 for trainer/driver Wayne Henry. Sired by Kadabra out of the Super Pleasure mare Daylon Marvel, the Daylon Farms homebred is a full-sibling to O'Brien Award winner Daylon Magician, a career winner of nearly $2 million. Edstone and Delmar J were the best of the rest.
Ezee Tiguan ($3.40) won the first elimination for female trotters in front-end fashion, scoring in 2:01 by two and a half lengths over Lmc Hashtag. Lyle MacArthur trains and drives the Angus Hall-Spare Time Rozie filly for Linda Wellwood and Tammy Aspden. Windsong Ophelia finished third.
Driven by J.B. Renaud and trained by Julie Walker, Mike McAllister's Candid Hally ($7.90) was left loose on the lead after a pair of fillies broke stride early on. The Angus Hall-Candid Maner miss then kept late-challenger P C Glideline at bay at the end of the mile to win the final elimination in 2:03.3. Finnair rounded out the top three finish order.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Western Fair Raceway.