April Rose ($3.50) not only scored her second straight Preferred 2 Handicap win on Wednesday evening (May 23) at The Raceway at Western Fair District, but also took a full second off the track record for trotters at 1-1/16 miles in capturing the $12,200 feature.
Ed Hensley gunned April Rose to the fore from her assigned post 7, circling Star Photo (Alfie Carroll), Seeyou Men (Robert Shepherd) and Willyorwonthe (William Megens) to take charge on the first turn. After Star Photo broke midway on the first turn, Ionia (Nick Steward) accelerated up the pegs to protect second from Willyorwonthe — who would inherit the pocket from a breaking Ionia on the second turn, but April Rose dictated the terms through stout early splits of :27.3 and :56.3.
With three-eighths to go, Seeyou Men offered up a steady first-over challenge, working closer from midfield to press April Rose into the far turn, but the six-year-old SJs Caviar mare held her ground all the way to the winning post, driven out through the final quarter to a hard-fought two-length victory in 2:04.1. Seeyou Men held second, while Fluff Me Up (Scott Coulter) rallied belatedly down the grandstand side to take third.
Driver Ed Hensley co-owns 20-time winner April Rose with trainer Ashleigh Hensley. April Rose took a full second off the local and Canadian half-mile track trotting record at the added distance, formerly held by Fluff Me Up.
In the evening’s fourth race, Jared Bako earned his first career training win with P C Dream Ticket ($7.70), in rein to Colin Kelly for a first-over, 1:59.1 score in an upper-level conditioned trotting event.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.