After a week away from Cornerstone Raceway in Yorkton to allow for a weekend of professional chuckwagon racing, the standardbreds were back in action Friday.
The seventh race of the 10-race card was the feature $2,000 Open Pace for Custom Printers Ltd. The race was topped by Outlaw Spider for driver Dallas McGee.
The night also saw three drivers win two, each taking back-to-back races.
Dean Rey won the first race with Dashin On By, then took the second race with Donegal Jim.
Tyler Redwood, back in action for the first time this season, won race three with Well Heeled, over Brian Gray with Stagger Lee and Richard Remillard with Miss Tinkerbelle. Race four went to Redwood as well with Judges Discretion topping Travis Cullen with Starshine Jet and Glenn LeDrew with Dal Reo Indy.
Redwood said it felt great to finally get back into action.
"It's been a long winter, a long off season. It's very good to be back," he said, adding it was made better because "we picked up where we left off last year. We had a very, very good day."
In addition to the two wins, Redwood had two seconds, a third, and a pair of fifths, picking up a cheque in seven of his eight drives. Redwood said it was a case of the horses being ready.
"They trained down really, really well," he said, adding it was his father who "had them ready to rock 'n roll."
In race five Barona Fivehundred went to the winner's circle for driver Kevin Sampson, over Redwood with Spring Baby and Cullen with Sergeirachpaninoff. Sampson then piloted Red Star Best to top spot in race six, ahead of Remillard with Sgt Pepper, and Cullen with Parker Hall.
Sampson said the win with Red Star Best "didn't surprise" him, "but Barona [Fivehundred] was a bit of a surprise."
He said it wasn't that the eight-year-old gelding isn't a solid horse, but he had not been racing well.
"He's a pretty good horse, but he hasn't been race ready," offered Sampson. "He wasn't tight."
He said the week off for the chuckwagon races was actually good for Barona.
"We got to train him a bit more."
Sampson also noted the track was in good shape considering the chuckwagon races only five days earlier.
"They graded it yesterday. They took it right down," he said adding showers before the start of the card "helped give it a little cushion. So it was good."
Sampson said being back on the track "feels good," after not driving at all in 2011. He said he missed it, adding, "it's fun. I like it here. It’s a very laid back place to race."
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Yorkton Exhibition.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Calvin Daniels)