A pair of aged talents advanced to noteworthy victories on the Tuesday, May 28 card at The Raceway at Western Fair District. Early on the card Azucar powered to a 1:58.4 win in the $9,400 Preferred 3 Trot and Moon Lake capped the evening by collecting her 50th victory.
Lady Caterina led the field in the Preferred 3 Trot, posting splits of :28.1, :58.4 and 1:28 with Nebraska Jack drafting from the pocket. Azucar raced fourth for most of the race before driver Travis Henry tipped the seven-year-old Crazed gelding first over approaching the final turn. Slowly Azucar gained ground on the top two turning into the stretch while Nebraska Jack jolted for the lead from the pocket. Azucar surged past Nebraska Jack late to win by a half length in 1:58.4 while Lady Caterina settled for third.
Co-owned by trainer Martin Lachance with T. Marielle Enberg, Azucar won his third race from 14 starts this season and his 27th from 134 overall, earning $207,637. He paid $11.00 to win.
For the last four months Moon Lake has tried to snag her 50th victory, finally nabbing the milestone by ripping from off the pace to a 2:07.1 win going an added distance in the final race.
Starting from the second tier, Moon Lake sat seventh as 5-2 favourite Twin B J J controlled the pace past a :28.1 opening quarter. Driver Scott Coulter soon caught cover approaching a :59 half and sat fourth in the flow led by Saintsbury Lass to the backside.
The flow stalled towards a 1:29.2 third quarter as Sainstbury Lass began to backtrack, forcing Miss Ohio three wide with Moon Lake tracking the cover into the final turn. Miss Ohio edged past Twin B J J to lead briefly in the stretch before Coulter angled Moon Lake off the helmet and paced clear to the wire. Miss Ohio held second while pocket-sitter St Lads Billiejean circumvented the fading pacesetter for third.
A 13-year-old mare by Dream Away, Moon Lake has amassed $219,333 from 362 starts and 159 on-the-board finishes. She races for trainer Robert Coulter, who co-owns with Nancy Coulter, and paid $8.40 to win.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.