The City Of London Pacing Series continued on Wednesday evening with seven $7,500 splits during an action-packed card of racing at Western Fair Raceway
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Just like last week, driver Trevor Henry sent the Paul Taylor pupil Jael Seelster to the lead in the first division for fillies and mares and the 9-5 second choice went the distance to record her best mile to date in 1:57.2. Whats Your Fantasy (Brad Forward) finished three-quarters of a length behind off a two-hole trip and the favourite, first leg winner Starting Bid (Doug McNair), followed under the wire. Richard Villeneuve of Val Caron, ON owns the three-year-old Camluck-Juno Laag filly, who has won two of her five starts this season.
Next up, J M Lasstax pulled the pocket down the backstretch and poked a nose in front of early leader Holly Berry (Nick Steward) at the three-quarters mark. The even-money favourite, who finished second by a neck in her first leg division, then kicked away by 2-1/2 lengths for the victory in 1:58.4. Holly Berry and Daylon Diva (Mike Whelan) crossed the wire together in a dead-heat for second. J M Lasstax, a three-year-old daughter of Camluck-Tipntax, improved her record to 5-3-1 in 11 outings for trainer-driver Greg Dustin and owner-breeder R K Joe Miskokomon of Muncey, ON.
Cents Of Humour put her backers in a good mood when she rallied off cover to post a 21-1 upset. The three-year-old daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Hilarious, trained and driven by Ross Battin, prevailed by 1-3/4 lengths in 1:58.3 over the leader Whisperinyourear (Trevor Henry), a first leg winner, and Exotic Star (Doug McNair) for owner W David Carson of Listowel, ON. The victory was her second in 13 attempts this season.
In the first colt division, leg one winner Lawman Reign (Ross Battin) went first over and edged ahead of pacesetter No Mercy Percy (Doug McNair) around the final turn, but the pocket-sitting Harnessnitencanada and Alex Lilley split horses down the lane and using :29.2 final quarter he got his nose to the wire first. The four-year-old son of Rambaran-Armbro Poppins, who was sent postward as the 5-1 fourth choice, stopped the clock in 1:57.4 with Lawman Reign right there for second and Andy Baran (Robert Shepherd) finishing third. Harnessnitencanada is now three-for-seven in his debut season for trainer Greg Fragiskatos and owner Lumei Fragiskatos of Thamesford, ON.
Front-runner Source Of Power, with Brad Forward in the bike, delivered on his pari-mutual promise in a matching 1:57.4 effort. Daylon Hot Rod (Robert Sparling Jr.) finished three lengths back in second and Keaton (Bruce Richardson) was third. Travis Alexander trains and Fiddlers Creek Stables L of West Bloomfield, Michigan owns the Western Terror-Cate The Great colt, who is now four-for-nine in his sophomore year.
Favourite Fresh Herb and driver Doug McNair took the fastest split of the night in 1:55.4. The homebred son of Camluck-Coriander Hanover, trained by 2010 Hall of Fame inductee Bob McIntosh, led the way to the wire, winning by 3-1/2 lengths over leg one winner Doug And Dude (Ryan Holliday) and Battle Ground (Trevor Henry). Unraced at two, Fresh Herb has won four of his seven sophomore starts for the Robert McIntosh Stables of Windsor, ON and C S X Stables of Liberty Center, Ohio.
After finishing second in the first round, fan favourite Encore Seelster rallied from off the pace with a :28.4 final quarter to win the evening’s finale in 1:56.4 with Scott Coulter at the lines. Cajon Thunder (Mark Williams) finished second off a two-hole trip while tempo-setter Lucky Gift (Trevor Henry), who captured his division last time out, settled for show. Encore Seelster has recorded two wins and two seconds in four starts this year for trainer James Ritchie, who shares ownership with Paul Ritchie of Orangeville and Murray Cox of Rockwood, ON.
The top eight money earners from the first two legs will advance to next week's $40,000 (added) finals along with two also eligibles.
Wednesday’s program also featured five Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for sophomore trotting fillies. For a recap and replays of the OSS action, click here.
To view Wednesday's results, click here.