Driver David Kelly put on a show on Sunday, June 30 at Century Downs, scoring five driving victories on the 10-race card, headlined by Bonus Round in the $25,000 Preferred Pace.
Winning three of the first four races on the card, the Preferred served as the fifth race on the card, where Kelly and Bonus Round left from post four in the field of six as the bettor's second choice.
Kelly took Bonus Round back to fourth off of the wings of the gate while 6-5 favourite Samba Beat (Philip Giesbrecht) marched the field to the quarter in :27.1. Bonus Round flushed the cover of Icy Blue Scooter (Nathan Sobey), who went right at the leading Samba Beat who had slowed the tempo down to the half in :57.4. The pace quickened as Samba Beat dueled Icy Blue Scooter up the backstretch to three-quarters in 1:25.4 while Bonus Round stalked from second-over.
Bonus Round tipped three-deep on the final turn, joining the lead duo just a length back at the top of the stretch. Surging home in :28.3, Bonus Round made quick work of the leaders in the lane before powering clear by 4-1/2 lengths at the finish in 1:54.3. Icy Blue Scooter held sway for second, Tin Can Timmy (Jamie Gray) finished third.
Owned by Pick 6 Stable, Bonus Round is now a three-time winner in 2024 through nine seasonal outings. Kelly also trains the six-year-old gelded son of Santanna Blue Chip-Bouncing Hanover who has banked $179,760 lifetime. The victory was one of two training victories on the card for Kelly, having also done the driving and conditioning of Panda Beer who won the evening's third race.
Kelly's additional driving victories came aboard Bud Neigh Kid, Little Rhys Chick, and Bneath The Cover, all of which came in the first six races of the card.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Century Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)