The Frank Farrell Memorial Pace was the feature race among nine on the card at the Yorkton Exhibition Track Friday
. Although only a field of five, it was a race which highlighted a fine field, including Maximus Pass with career earnings of more than $200,000, and Kalahari Riff, Saskatchewan Horse of the Year in 2008.
However, it would by Outlaw Watch Me, a seven-year-old mare for owner/trainer Brian Gray who would pace to the winner's circle in a time of 2:00.4, the best time of the night, but well off the mare's track record time of 1:57.5 established last summer.
At the quarter-mile Outlaw Watch Me trailed the field by two lengths, but was in contention by the time the field entered the final stretch, nosing out Kalahari Riff who placed for owner/driver Kevin Seiver, with Barona Fivehundred was there to show for owners Blake Piwniuk and Jennifer Sutter behind the drive of Ryan Grundy.
The win was a big one for Gray who has known the Farrell family for years. “That's about as excited as I've been for a while,” he said.
Gray said Outlaw Watch Me is almost always in the mix. “She might get beat, but she'll never quit. If she quits there's something wrong,” he said.
Gray said he knew the mare was looking sharp coming off a two-week lay-off as professional chuckwagon racing took over the track June 5. “I knew she was good. I just didn't know if she was good enough for that bunch. There was a lot of speed in there,” he said.
It was a case of playing the waiting game through much of the race, said Gray, who said he was all right with trailing the field “as long as I didn't get too far away.” He said Outlaw Watch Me “likes to lead,” but against the fast field he could let her have her way. So he waited out the field. “I knew they were going to slow up eventually. I had to sit and just be patient.”
Gray had a second win on the night with Four KG Whitesocks who led the field from start to finish in the fourth race, with a time of 2:06.4
A local ownership group; Nancy Tamblyn, Alfred Labas, Max and Debra McInnes, were all smiles after the Yorkton This Week Feature in the seventh as Glenn LeDrew took Always Bizzy to the win in a time of 2:04.1, over Barona Dakota and driver Kevin Seiver, and Tyler Redwood driving Power Maid.
The first race of the card was also big for driver Kevin Sampson who returned to the seat for the first time since 2007. Sampson piloted Proven Promise to the winner's circle for owners Murray Selby and Glenn Grainger, edging out Phil House and driver Tyler Redwood in second and Brian Gray driving Belle Fire for third. The race was a leisurely one with a winning time of 2:08.1.
“It was nice to be back,” said Sampson, who added a job in northern Alberta kept him off the track in 2008. “I missed it last year.
“I thought I'd be nervous but I wasn't.” Sampson said a pre-race qualifier helped shake off the dust.”
In the winning race, he said a horse broke, giving him the rail. “Two horses in front of me were racing each other. I just followed along, and got there down the stretch,” he said, adding a win in his race back was “good for the confidence. It was pretty nice to win that first one.”
To view Friday's results, click here.
(Yorkton Exhibition)