The four-year-old Chapter Seven gelding Laugh Now cleared control before the quarter and faced nary an anxious moment in progress to a 2:00 victory in the second of two $8,000 Pop-Up Series preliminaries at Georgian Downs on Sunday (June 12).
Driver Anthony MacDonald motored the Dominic Gladu trainee to the point and set a clip of :30.2, 1:01 and 1:30.2 under minimal pressure. Turning for home, he cruised to a 1-1/2 length victory over pocket sitter Dusktodawn Hanover while Arch Adam rallied for third and Serenade Street settled for fourth.
Owned by Thestable Laugh Now Group, Laugh Now broke his maiden in his sixth try and has now earned $6,850. He paid $3.70 to win.
Trainer-driver George Ketros guided his charge Royal Leaf to a coast-to-coast victory in the other Pop-Up Series split, winning in 2:00.1. The three-year-old Cantab Hall gelding commandeered the field to a :29.4 first quarter and slowed the tempo to a 1:00.1 half. Snagging another breather to three-quarters in 1:31.1, he faced a first-over challenge from 7-5 co-favourite Magical Major but promptly turned that rival away into the final turn to post a two-length win. American Blizz K finished third and Crew Chief took fourth.
Owned by Ketros, Royal Leaf won his second race from four starts this season and his fourth from seven overall. He has earned $14,500 and paid $4.80 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.