Prince Val and R Lil King capitalized off a pair of pocket trips in their respective Preferred assignments at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday night
.
In the $13,500 Preferred Pace, Prince Val sat the pocket behind Button Up (Mike Horner) though stations of :28.1, :58 and 1:26.3 before Brad Forward sent him down the stretch to edge out the pacesetter by a nose in 1:55.1. Berts Casey (Dave Wall) finished third.
The winning nine-year-old gelded son of Camluck-Aahptometrist, who paid $17.40 to win as the 7-1 sixth choice, is trained by Chris Haskell for owner Cassie Nantais of Windsor, ON. The consistent pacer has won six times in nine 2010 starts with two second-place finishes. The lion’s share of the purse brings his earnings to $29,930 on the year.
R Lil King also worked out a two-hole trip for his connections, driver Donald Rankin, Jr. and trainer Rod Boyd, who shares ownership with the Feet First Stable of Cambridge, ON. This five-year-old gelded son of Western Maverick-Elle Getty was also overlooked by the betting public as the 8-1 fifth choice.
Fan favourite Yulovepebblebeach (Brad Forward) carved out panels of :28.2, :58.4 and 1:27.4 before R Lil King tracked him down in the stretch for the three-quarter length score in 1:57. Mcrileymac (Robert Sparling, Jr.) journeyed first over to get third.
R Lil King paid $18.90 in winning for the second time in eight tries this season. His earnings stand at $14,300.
To view Saturday's results, click here.