Write About Now completed a sweep of the Mark Austin Memorial Pacing Series for colts and geldings while Into Go scored a breakthrough victory in the filly final during the Sunday, June 16 afternoon card of harness racing at Dresden Raceway.
Named for the late horseman, Mark Austin, who got his start at Dresden Raceway in the early 1980s, the series was for pacers that were non-winners of one pari-mutual race or $5,000 lifetime, as of midnight March 31, 2024.
Trainer Bill Hamm's homebred Write About Now delivered on his 1-5 pari-mutuel promise in the $15,000 final for male pacers with a wire-to-wire victory in 1:59.4 for driver Don Rankin Jr.
Leaving from post two, Rankin put the popular Sportswriter-Cant Stop gelding on the point and cruised through panels of :29.3, 1:00.4 and 1:31 while Ashers Basher (Nick Steward) advanced into the pocket leaving Officer Cheese (Alfie Carroll) first-up down the backside the final time. Officer Cheese got within a half length of the leader with early trailer Thejackofdiamonds (Garrett Rooney) rallying three-wide into contention as they turned for home, but Write About Now responded by opening up 3-1/2 lengths through the stretch. Thejackofdiamonds edged out Officer Cheese for the runner-up honours.
Opting to take the shortest route around the half-mile track to victory, Rankin commented, "I was quite confident the whole mile, really. He's a talented colt in this group."
Having made just two starts as a freshman, Write About Now has won four of his five sophomore starts since partnering with Rankin.
"He needed to be educated a little," noted Rankin. "He's a very green horse, but he's got talent. You can work with that if you got the talent... At this point, he's done everything he's been asked and he's done it easily."
Bill and Thomas Hamm share ownership of the gelding, who increased his bankroll to $17,186 with his successful stint in the Austin Series.
"It was an honour to win this race, the Mark Austin Memorial. A great horseman and great friend," added Rankin of the race's namesake.
Write About Now paid $2.40 to win.
Despite going winless through a pair of preliminary legs in the series, trainer John Marshall's homebred Into Go was in it to win it, leading the filly division from start to finish for a 2:00.2 maiden-breaking victory and the lion's share of the $14,100 purse.
Driven by a confident Andy Moore, Into Go carved out fractions of :29.3, 1:01 and 1:31 before drawing away from her foes by 4-1/2 lengths. Crytel Shadow (Garrett Rooney) won the race for place off a second-over trip as she edged out Czech With Vivian (Peter Core), who had matched strides with Into Go turning for home before the winner gave her the slip.
Sent postward as the 2-1 second choice following top three finishes in the opening legs of the series, Into Go returned $6.30 to win and $36.10 to place. There was no show wagering. The favoured two-leg winner, Premier Elsa (Nick Steward), secured a pocket trip early on behind Into Go but faded to fifth.
Marshall shares ownership of the three-year-old Sportswriter-Milliondollarspree filly, who made her 14th career start a winning one, with Robin Cassidy.
Sunday's racing action included a $5,000 Preferred 3 Handicap Trot, which was won in a photo finish by Hot Fudge Sundae for the Carroll family -- driver Alfie, trainer Angie and co-owner Mary.
Hot Fudge Sundae pocketed Shouldaknownbetter (Anthony Hamlin) early on and proceeded to call the shots through panels of :29, :59.1 and 1:28.4 before holding off the favourite, Lass Shot (Garrett Rooney), who took her shot late in the mile but came up a neck short. Shouldaknownbetter finished a half-dozen lengths back in third, with Heavy Dude E (Mark Williams) completing the field, which was scratched down to just four starters.
A seven-year-old Kadabra-A Sundae On Sunday gelding, Hot Fudge Sundae picked up his 20th career victory and returned $5.10 as the 3-2 second choice.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Dresden Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; Photo of Write About Now from a previous win)