Donegal Gerald needed every inch of racetrack at Kawartha Downs on Tuesday to extend his win streak to two-in-a-row for trainer Dave Matson
, who watched the gelding circle rivals en route to an impressive score in the $12,000 Preferred-2 for pacer.
With Steve Skilton at the helm, Donegal Gerald settled into fifth while Trouball paced to the opening quarter in :26.4. Trouball was able to back things down in the second quarter, as noted in the half-mile clocking of :56.4. He quickly came under pressure, however, when Ghost Hunter rolled first-over as the field entered the backstretch. Donegal Gerald was hot on his heels.
Trouball still maintained the lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:24, with Ghost Hunter just a quarter of a length away on the outside. Donegal Gerald was perfectly spotted for Skilton, who had his charge tracking the leaders from second over.
The battling leaders couldn’t hold off a late rushing Donegal Gerald in the closing strides, as the five-year-old son of Rambaran used a :29.2 rally to post the win by three-quarters of a length in 1:53.4. Ghost Hunter held on the finish second and Trouball, who was sent off as the 2-1 favourite, was third.
John Foran of Newmarket, ON holds the papers on Donegal Gerald, who has put together a 5-2-1 record in 14 trips postward this season. He has banked more than $46,000 this season, which brings his lifetime purse haul to $172,855.
To view Tuesday’s results, click here.