Seven eliminations of the City Of London Series - for horses and geldings and three for fillies and mares – were contested Tuesday at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and the favourites had a field day.
The female pacers were up first, and Played By Anangel gave longshot players a bankroll boost thanks to her 24-1 upset in the opening contest. Lorne House rallied the Peter Brickman trainee to a 1:57.2 victory in the $7,000 event. Lyons Katrina earned the runner-up award, with Go For Sand taking home third prize.
It was the 2014 debut for the maiden-breaking lass, who went 0-for-8 last season. Erin Swainson Brickman of Sebringville, Ontario holds the ownership papers on the career winner of $6,962.
Milliondollar Babe hammered out panels of :28.4, :59.3 and 1:28 in the second split before using a :29.1 final frame to win by three lengths in 1:57.1. Steve Byron mapped out the winning trip for the three-year-old daughter of Million Dollar Cam-Winningisbelieving, who defeated Tymal Xtra and Miss Brandi K.
It was the fifth win of the year in nine attempts for the homebred, who is owned by trainer Gino Cicero of Melancthon and Marlene Heath of Hornings Mills, Ontario. She managed to stash away purse earnings in excess of $18,000 to date.
Face To Face failed to win her first four lifetime starts at Woodbine Racetrack, but she prevailed by a narrow margin in the final elimination thanks to her come-from-behind performance. Trevor Henry clicked with the 1-5 favourite, who defeated runner-up Dreamfair Dahlia by half a length. Gracies Parade rounded out the top three finishers.
Luc Blais trains the three-year-old daughter of Camluck-Cheeky Hanover for Les Ecuries Luc Blais Inc, Pierre Charette, Michel Blais and Pierre Blais of Quebec. The lion’s share of the purse pushed her earnings in excess of $14,000.
In the first $7,000 elimination for the male pacers, Fortune Playboy wired up the foes he faced in a sharp clocking of 1:57.2 for the tandem of driver Brad Forward and trainer Patrick Shepherd. The four-year-old son of Rambaran-Fame Of Fortune sliced out splits of :29, :59.1 and 1:28.1 before using a :29.1 closing quarter to seal the deal by 7-1/2 lengths. Hussys Blue Boy was next best, with Poker Run rounding out the top three finishers.
The victory was the sixth of the season from nine attempts for the career winner of $22,100. The gelding is owned by Holland Racing Stable of Niagara On The Lake, Ontario.
Bad Outlaw got into the win column for the first time this season after his 1:58.3 triumph in the second split. The four-year-old son of Badlands Hanover-Outlawed Beauty drew clear to win by 2-1/4 lengths over Terandawn, with the show dough being earned by Armada Seelster.
Trainer/driver Ross Battin of Monkton co-owns the four-time winner with Leonard Gamble of Etobicoke, Ontario. They’ve watched the sophomore stash away earnings of $12,742 to date.
Decroft Havaball went to the front and didn’t look back in the third contest for the duo of driver Trevor Henry and trainer Randy Marriage. The three-year-old son of Astronomical-Casimir Havaball led through intervals of :28.4, :59.2 and 1:29.1 before coasting home in :30.4 to win in 2:00 over Maserati Seelster and Sancretariat.
Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the colt won for the third time this season from eight attempts for owner Clarence Dekens of Clinton, Ontario. The $3,500 payday lifted his cash stash in excess of $10,000.
Normstrikesfame made a bold move going to the three-quarter pole in the final elimination, and it proved to be the winning move for the Kyle Reibeling trainee. James MacDonald hustled the four-year-old son of L H Stryker-Creek Alley around foes before drawing clear to win by a pair of lengths over race favourite Last One in 1:58.4. Hunt N Save set the fractions before fading to finish third.
Reibeling shares ownership on the homebred with Mike Timpano, Frank Cirillo and Mark Nelson. It was the third win of the season from nine attempts for the career winner in excess of $10,000.
To view results for Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results – Western Fair.