A total of four divisions for the opening preliminary of the Mark Austin Memorial Pacing Series – two $5,000 events for fillies and mares and two $5,000 events for horses and geldings – went postward on the 11-race card at Dresden Raceway on Sunday afternoon (June 4).
Danica Seelster started proceedings with a pillar-to-post score in the first division for fillies and mares. The three-year-old daughter of All Bets Off grabbed control past a :30.3 first quarter and rolled through middle fractions of :59.1 and 1:29.3 to then withstand the first-over charge of Dear Birdie by a neck in 2:00.2 with 9-5 favourite Nadia Seelster closing for third. Kristopher Haskell trains and co-owns Danica Seelster with Stanley Henderson and Grant Shelton. Lorne House piloted the $6.10 winner.
Pocket-sitter – and a loose pocket-sitter at that – Rose Ricky revved to victory in the other Mark Austin division for fillies and mares. Driver Andy Moore secured the seat behind pacesetter Hello Life which became more expansive off a :30 first quarter as Hello Life scurried clear of the field. The 15-1 shot opened nine lengths to a :59 half and then held a 10-length lead to three-quarters in 1:28.2 before the mountain began to topple. Rose Ricky reeled in the loose leader with each stride to cut the lead and then scoot away to a 1-1/4-length win in 1:59.1 with Sweet Cheesus, the 2-5 favourite, finishing third. Brad Wilson owns the daughter of All Bets Off who is trained by Dwayne May. She paid $11.90 to win.
The first division of the Mark Austin Series for horses and geldings went in coast-to-coast fashion to 1-9 favourite Fear The Captain. Driver Dan Clements slammed the hammer with the Mike Timpano trainee and strode through a clip of :29, :59.1 and 1:29.1 to seal a 1-1/4-length win in 2:00.4 over Moe Hammed Dali and pocket-sitter Daylyn Ryeson. James Wilson owns the sophomore Fear The Dragon colt, who paid $2.20 to win.
Timpano completed a sweep of the Mark Austin divisions for males with 3-2 favourite Cash Advance delivering in 2:01. The Artspeak colt sat third through a :29.4 first quarter before springing to the top through a 1:01.3 half and battling for command through three-quarters in 1:31.2 to pull clear to a two-length win over first-over Teen Tattler. Seaspray Stables Ltd. owns Cash Advance, who paid $5 to win.
A $5,000 Preferred 3 Pace capped the afternoon and went to Mr Cheeseman, who led every step to a 1:57 victory. The six-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding took the lead before a :29.2 first quarter, staved first-over pressure from Kenny Joe through middle splits of :59.3 and 1:28 to then keep him at bay through the lane by a neck. Scott McNiven trains the $6.20 winner for owner Donald Douglas.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Dresden Raceway.