Second-betting choice Royal Renegade rode the cones for most of the mile and saved enough ground to brush past even-money favourite and pacesetter Freddy Bear to win the $11,500 Preferred 2 Pace on Sunday, June 30 at Georgian Downs.
Driver Travis Cullen had the Jodie Cullen trainee placed third as Freddy Bear posted splits of :27, :55.3 and 1:23.1 on the lead. Pocket-sitter Imsporty faltered circling the final turn and got passed by Royal Renegade as he revved off the cones for the stretch drive. The seven-year-old Jk Royal Glush gelding rushed by Freddy Bear nearing the finish to win by one-and-a-half lengths in 1:51.2. Br Ezliksndymornin finished third.
Owned by Paul Sanders, Royal Renegade won his fifth race from 17 starts this season and his 24th from 132 overall, earning $195,676. He paid $5.60 to win.
In the following race favourite Hes A Sensation ground first over to a one-length victory in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace. The nine-year-old Modern Art gelding sat fourth to a :27.4 quarter set by Smooth Mara N before pulling off the pylons to challenge the pacesetter. Parked through a :57.1 half and by three-quarters in 1:24.4, Hes A Sensation put away the tiring leader turning into the stretch and held off Joes Bid as he rallied off cover for second. Pillage And Burn, from third over, took third.
Trained by Jack Harris for owner Mark Dorssers, Hes A Sensation won his third race from 12 starts this season and his 22nd from 159 overall, earning $331,470. J Harris sat behind the $2.80 winner.
Driver Ed Hensley and trainer Ashleigh Hensley teamed to take the $8,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace early on the program with their seven-year-old mare Dazzling Rockette. The daughter of Rocknroll Hanover sat off a :27.4 first quarter before tipping outside and rushing towards the leader through a :57.1 half. She took control from 3-2 favourite Cosette approaching three-quarters, timed in 1:25, and maintained her lead through the stretch to win by a length in 1:54.2. Cosette settled for second while Shadow World closed for third.
Winning her fourth race from 22 starts this season and her 32nd from 179 overall, Dazzling Rockette has accrued $344,700 in earnings. She paid $7.60 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.