Even-money choice Iwontdothatagain ($4.00) overcame an eventful journey to just prevail in the featured $10,000 Open Pace on the nine-race Victoria Day (May 22) card at Century Downs.
Iwontdothatagain was in play from the outset, dueling with Premium Stock (Jim Marino) on the first turn before establishing command through a :27.4 first quarter, but immediately yielded to the retaking Premium Stock with a circuit to go. Following a :57.1 half mile, Iwontdothatagain was boxed behind a contested pace up the far side, as Read The Proposal (Michael Hennessy) offered steady first-over pressure and Pillage And Burn (J. F. Gagne) swept three-wide from the back of the compact field of six on approach to the far turn.
As Pillage And Burn reached the lead at a 1:26.2 three-quarter split but failed to clear, trainer-driver Kelly Hoerdt angled Iwontdothatagain to the four-path, and the pair lifted in the stretch to just reach for a 1:54.4 score. Read The Proposal gamely held second after his extended first-over ascent, and Pillage And Burn held third.
Hoerdt co-owns the six-year-old Stonebridge Regal gelding, who rose steadily throughout this year from the $4,000 claiming ranks to Open company, with Ed Keryliuk. Iwontdothatagain, victorious for the third time in his last four starts, is now an 11-time winner.
Hoerdt wound up finishing the card with a training and driving triple thanks to victories with Cool Cowboy (1:53.1) in Race 1 and Mystery Mania (1:54.3) in Race 8.
His barn has racked up 35 wins so far this season while banking close to $225,000. To date, Hoerdt has harnessed 1,558 winners while racking up more than $11 million in purse earnings.
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click on the following link: Monday Results - Century Downs.