Two days after the aged mare pacing record was equalled at Grand River Raceway, Charmbo Stormy claimed it all for herself in impressive fashion as she won the $11,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Pace on Wednesday, June 11.
The mare was put to task by Austin Sorrie after being out-left by rail starter Ladies From Hell (Garrett Rooney), and she moved alongside that rival on the first turn. Rooney played hardball, and the battling leaders distanced themselves from the rest as they carved out blistering first-half fractions of :26.3 and :53.3.
Charmbo Stormy finally wrested control as they entered the backstretch, and Sorrie kept the gas pedal down to three-quarters in 1:22 with the field closing in. She turned for home with a two-length cushion, and the closing Bettornotmachme (Travis Cullen) flattened out in the final stages, leaving Charmbo Stormy to complete the victory and stop the clock in 1:51.3. Bettornotmachme was 1-1/4 lengths beaten in second with Redlandbethanyjean (Travis Henry) rounding out the triactor.
The performance lowered the record for an aged mare pacer by three-fifths of a second. The previous standard of 1:52.1 was jointly held by Fated Fire, who set it last year, and Stag Royal, who matched it on Monday.
Charmbo Stormy earned a new lifetime mark with the victory, her seventh of the season for trainer Jared Mann and owner Ronald Nobes. The seven-year-old by Sportswriter out of Charmbo Lucky has earned $184,229 and won 23 of her 131 career starts.
To view Wednesday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Wednesday Results – Grand River Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada)