In an eight-day span, a six-year-old pacer has raced three times in two different countries, won all three of those starts -- including a lifetime-best effort four days ago. That pacer is Maritime-based City Of Year, who notched the third of those wins on Saturday (June 16) at Exhibition Park Raceway in the track's $1,350 Winners Over class.
With trainer and owner Mike Downey at the controls, City Of The Year left strongest from the field of four (shortened from five after the judges' scratch of Union Man Hanover) and fronted the field every step of the mile thereafter. Through uncontested fractions of :29.3, 1:02.2 and 1:33.3, City Of The Year kicked home in :28.4 to trip the timer in 2:02.2. Co-favoured Real Bigg (Mark Haig) was poised to pounce from the pocket in the stretch but only lost ground on his rival heading to the wire. Chasen Cancun (Chris Davies) completed the triactor.
A winner in the class below at EPR one week ago, City Of The Year (Royal Mattjesty - What Fools Believe) made a trip stateside on Tuesday (June 12) and tackled conditioned rivals at Maine's Bangor Raceway with ease, winning by more than four lengths in a career best 1:56.3.
For the results from Exhibition Park's Saturday card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results - Exhibition Park Raceway.