Top trotters clashed and a whack of divisions of the City Of London Series highlighted the Friday evening program at The Raceway at Western Fair District.
Aussie Lover turned a two-hole trip into a 1:56.4 score in the $13,000 Preferred 2 & 3 Handicap for trotters for the tandem of driver J Harris and co-owner/trainer Gord Remmen. Sent off at odds of 9-2, the five-year-old son of Angus Hall-His Mistress tracked Power And Grace through panels of :28.1, :58 and 1:27.2 before pulling pocket and using a :29.1 kicker to prevail by 1-1/4 lengths over race favourite Cool Muscle. Power And Grace was third. Co-owned by 8113564 Canada Ltd, Aussie Lover improved his 2022 record to 4-2-0 from 15 starts with the win. It was the 14th lifetime score for the career winner of $133,635.
The majority of the undercard featured various $8,000 divisions in the second leg of the City Of London Series, and here’s what transpired in those events: Filly & Mare Pacers Rockyabillycockshut was a popular winner in front-stepping fashion in the first division for driver J Harris and Lacey McCabe. The three-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight-Lady Terror drew clear to win by a pair of lengths over Lyons Believer in 1:58.4. Millions Angels took home third prize. Glenview Livestock Ltd of Wallenstein, Ont. owns the youngster who has manufactured a 2-1-2 record from five starts this season after going unraced as a rookie. She’s banked $11,476 to date.
Lyons Princess was a handy winner in the second division for the tandem of driver Anthony Haughan and trainer Anthony Beaton. On top at every call, the three-year-old daughter of Lyonssomewhere-Renees Queen drew clear to win by 3-3/4 lengths over Ezbriesybeautiful in 1:57.4. Barstow Belle rounded out the top three finishers. Sent off as the 1-9 favourite, the four-time winner from 12 career tries bumped her lifetime earnings to $27,800 for Threelyonsracing of Brantford, Ont.
Filly & Mare Trotters Larrys Girl went wire-to-wire in the first division for driver Jason Ryan and trainer Francis Guillemette. The four-year-old daughter of Il Sogno Dream-Withahearttomatch held on to win by a neck over race favourite P C Livingadream in 2:01. Magnolia Lane recovered from an early miscue to finish third. Jody McClure and 2729346 share ownership on the mare who now boasts a 6-1-1 record from 9 starts this season. It was the third straight score for the career winner of $40,670.
Kickin Your Mass used a come-from-behind approach in the second division, and it paid off. Anthony Haughan mapped out the winning trip for the Meg Crone pupil who kicked home in :29.3 to win by six lengths over Completed Promise in 1:59.3. Kilmartin Passion took home third prize. Sent off as the 1-5 favourite, the three-year-old daughter of Muscle Mass-Maple Sugar broke her maiden following a pair of runner-up efforts to kick off her career. John Clark of Caledonia, Ont. bred and owns the career winner of $7,875.
Horse & Gelding Pacers Docsphillycheese sat behind a hot pace and then popped out late to take home top honours in his division for driver Garrett Rooney and trainer/co-owner Britt Kennedy. The three-year-old son of Betterthancheddar-Flight Of An Angel drew clear to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Delightful Wine in 1:57.2. The show dough went to Leavin Bruises. Sent off as the 3-2 favourite, the homebred colt nabbed his second lifetime win from just his eighth lifetime start. He now owns a 2-2-0 record this season from four attempts after his 0-for-4 rookie year. He’s banked over $12,000 to date.
Almost There Boss went to the front and didn’t look back in the second division for driver Scott Coulter and trainer Harry Poulton. The three-year-old son of Sunshine Beach-Skittle Hanover drew clear to win by a pair of lengths over Airy Shadow in 1:56. Yarm finished third. Sent off as the 4-5 choice, the gelding improved his 2022 record to 2-0-1 from six assignments for Thestable Almostthereboss of Guelph, Ont. The sophomore pushed his lifetime earnings past $20,000 with the win.
Horse & Gelding Trotters Guinness turned a two-hole trip into a 2:00.4 triumph for Team Bax. The birthday boy, Matt Bax, mapped out the trip for the John Bax trainee who rallied home in :30 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over race favourite Livingontherail. Rounding out the Trifecta ticket was Tymal Shamrok. Sent off at odds of 9-2, the three-year-old son of Muscle Mass-Sante Fe celebrated the maiden-breaking win in what was an anything by unlucky 13th career start. He banked over $19,000 to this point for Bax Stable, The Cavalier Stable, Goin To The Show Stable and Ken Bax.
Mass Attack took down the second division, and he did so in front-stepping fashion for driver Scott Young and trainer Peter Clements. Sent off as the 4-5 favourite, the gelding kicked home in :29.3 to win by 1-3/4 lengths over Maple Leaf Bound in 1:58.3. Come Home For Life made a big rally in the late stages of the mile to be third. The three-year-old son of Muscle Mass-Persnickety is a homebred owned by Peter Clements and Barry Klages. After going winless in three starts as a rookie, the trotter has gone 2-for-3 to begin his 2022 campaign. He’s racked more than $16,000 along the way.
To view results for Friday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Friday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.