April Duford lowered her lifetime mark and beat the boys for the second straight week as she went back-to-back in the Preferred 3 Handicap Trot at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday, June 14.
The mare was third-fastest off the car but was hustled forward by Robert Doyle to take the lead as the field came off the first turn. The 3-5 choice reached the quarter-mile marker in :28 and cruised to the midway point in :58.4, where action began as Garrett Rooney pulled Global News out of fourth.
Global News encroached on the leader down the backstretch, pulling alongside her bridle at three-quarters in 1:27.4, but April Duford pulled back away by a length on the final turn. Global News resurged in mid-stretch, appearing to catch the wrapped-up leader off-guard, but April Duford found the line in time to win by a neck in 1:57.3.
Global News missed by a neck in a tough effort. Classy Guy (Nick Steward), 5-1/2 lengths back, held off Seven Iron (Mark MacDonell) for show.
April Duford, a five-year-old by Il Sogno Dream-Cha Cha Slide, is unbeaten at Hiawatha this season for trainer Ashley Duford. She took a new career-best of 1:58 in her yearly debut at the track last week. The homebred for Dennis Duford of Dresden has amassed career earnings of $114,741 and 17 wins in 76 lifetime appearances.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Hiawatha Horse Park.
(Standardbred Canada)