Dresden Raceway's Sunday (June 23) card played host to round one for the Mark Austin Pacing Series—a series for young and inexperienced pacers—which went in three divisions on the 11-race program.
Township Willy cruised to a five-and-three-quarter lengths win in the opening division. Driver Tyler Borth went right to the front with the three-year-old Sportswriter colt and stepped off easy fractions of :29.3, 1:00.2, 1:30.2 to a final time of 2:00. Township Willy is owned by Morris and Stanley Zipkin and trained by Rene Dion.
Denmark Seelster finished second for Chris Johnston while Stonebridge Presto and Greg Drew finished third.
Toxic Hanover and Borth strolled to an eight-and-a-half length win in the second division. The three-year-old Somebeachsomewhere colt eased off the gate and through the first turn before vaulting to the front at the quarter and rolling through fractions of :29.3, :59.3 and 1:29.4 in progress to a lifetime-best 1:58.3 mile for owner-trainer Jack Darling.
Donovan Z Tam and Marc St Louis finished second while Origami Seelster and Nick Steward was third.
The final division saw Donnie Rankin Jr. and Racebytheseaside sit patiently as Kid Genius and Major Artattack engaged in a speed battle on the front through fractions of :27.2, :59 and 1:30.1. Rankin Jr. then tipped the three-year-old Somebeachsomewhere colt three wide in the stretch and coasted to a three-length win.
Kid Genius and Steward finished second while Major Artattack and St Louis were third.
Tyler Borth ended the day with five wins to lead the driver’s standings at Dresden Raceway with 14 wins while Gene Piroski guided Terra Cotta Lad to victory in the Gateway Casino Pace for his first driving win since 2012.
The handle today at Dresden Raceway was $33,638 thanks to a crowd of almost 800 people.
(with files from Dresden Raceway)
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Dresden Raceway.