Eliminations for the City Of London Series took up the majority of the Tuesday evening program at The Raceway at Western Fair District, as the pacers did battle in 10 tilts on the 11-race card.
Naturescape took his $7,000 assignment in gate-to-wire fashion for the duo of driver Billy Davis, Jr. and trainer Gregg McNair. Leaving from the rail, the gelding sped through panels of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:26.3 before scooting home in :29.2 to win by 8-1/2 lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:56. St Lads Flirt was next best, with third prize going to Mythe Duharas.
Wayne Mac Rae of Falls River, Nova Scotia and Bloomingwood Farms Ltd of Harriston, Ontario share ownership on the three-year-old son of Art Colony-Barn Bunny Hanover. The lion’s share of the loot lifted the four-time winner’s lifetime earnings to $14,559.
Alexas Prayer celebrated a maiden-breaking victory in the second elimination. The Eric Adams trainee rallied for a 1:57.4 score for driver Trevor Henry, who worked out a second-over trip for the gelding. When Henry pulled the trigger the three-year-old son of Camluck-Michelles Prayer he used a :29-second kicker to win by a one-length margin over Sierra Madre. Royal Assassin, who set the pace, faded late and settled for third.
Millar Farms of Newmarket, Ontario owns the sophomore who now boasts a bankroll that stands at $9,180.
Brother Randy was a front-stepping winner in the third elimination for the team of driver Nick Steward and trainer George Robinson. The gelding was hustled through fractions of :28.2, :58.3 and 1:27 before cruising home in :30.2 to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Myhoneytellsall in 1:57.2. The show dough went to The Shadow.
It was the sixth win of the season in nine tries for the three-year-old son of Daylon Frontier-Truly Gala. He’s had eight top-two finishes from those nine tries, and he’s managed to bank $23,786 along the way.
Onewaytosantefe used the same approach to win his elimination for Team Young. The pedal was firmly applied to the metal by driver Scott ‘The Answer’ Young right from the outset, and after chopping out splits of :28.2, :59 and 1:28.1 the Bob Young pupil used a :29.3 closing quarter to win by a head over Elusive Hour in 1:57.4. Sky Guy took home third prize.
It was the second career win for the homebred, who races for Bob Young, Premier And Associates Fa and Alvin Storey. The three-year-old son of Jeremes Jet-Santa Fe Yankee upped his cash stash to $15,128 with the win.
Little Clayt steamrolled over the competition in his elimination as Billy Davis, Jr. showed no mercy to the rest of the field from start to finish. He asked the pacer to step through panels of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:27.4 before rolling home in a :29-second clip to win by 5-1/4 lengths in a career-best clocking of 1:56.4. Stonebridge Spunky was second under the line, with third prize going to Every Intention.
The three-year-old son of How Fleet He Is-Pick A Dilly improved his 2015 record to 7-1-0 from 11 tries with the win, and his bankroll soared to $29,128 for owner Alison Kennedy of Hanover, Ontario.
Alife Time Edition went to the front and didn’t look back en route to a maiden-breaking triumph in his $7,000 elimination. Alfie Carroll put the colt on the motor and wheeled the field through splits of :28.2, :58.1 and 1:27 before using a :30-second closing quarter to seal the deal in 1:57. Artful Way’s late bid fell short by a neck, with third prize going to Dalton Did It.
Bill Robinson trains the three-year-old son of Mach Three-Unique X Ample for owner/breeder Bob Hamather of Exeter, Ontario.
Promesse Duharas took the first elimination for the ladies when she rallied to a 2:00.1 decision in her $7,000 assignment for trainer/driver Stuart Sowerby. The filly wore down the pacesetting Golfgirl and fended off a late driving Bad Mood in the seven-horse affair. Bad Mood was second, with Golfgirl taking home the show award.
Sent off as the 3-2 favourite, the three-year-old daughter of Art Colony-Promesse De Paix extended her winning streak to three-in-a-row while improving her overall record to 3-2-0 from six tries. The lion’s share of the loot bumped her bankroll to $12,175.
Windsun Chanel broke into the win column for the first time this season thanks to her coast-to-coast triumph in the second elimination for the girls. Paul MacKenzie marched her to the top from Post 2 and the filly led through fractions of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:28 before using a :30-second closing panel to win by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:58. Pinky Tuscadero grabbed the runner-up award, with third money going to Ooh Shesa Badlands.
Murray Brethour trains the three-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Windsun Dee for owner/breeder Windsun Farms Inc of Uxbridge, Ontario. The two-time winner has banked $13,820 to date.
Outlier found her way to the winner’s circle on short notice in the second elimination for trainer Craig Gilmour, who watched the filly knock off a group of conditioned foes at Flamboro Downs this past Saturday evening. Bob McClure managed to hustle her into the two-hole in her Tuesday evening assignment, and after being treated to a pocket trip for most of the mile she rallied home in :30.3 to win by a head over Shes Dignified in 1:58.4. Spilling The Beans was third.
It was the third win of the year in eight tries for the three-year-old daughter of Tell All-Armbro Apricot, who is owned by Mike Timpano of Phelpston and Robert Burgess of Campbellville, Ontario. She’s banked close to $16,000 in her career.
Southwind Geisha did the road work in her elimination and came away victorious in 1:58 for driver Alfie Carroll. Sent off as the even-money favourite, the three-year-old daughter of Sportswriter-Gamblers Passion carved out fractions of :29, :59.1 and 1:27.3 before cruising home in :30.2 to win by a pair of lengths over Magic Of Brussels. Wishes For You rounded out the top three finishers.
Trainer Victor Puddy co-owns the lightly-raced youngster, who is 2-1-0 in four tries, with Limco Inc and Otnevram Inc of Quebec. She’s banked $10,000 to date.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.