Lisagain survived an early speed battle en route to capturing the 30th edition of the Des Smith Classic Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway on Sunday evening, and in doing so he erased the Canadian record for older pacing horses set at Rideau by his older brother
Lis Mara in the 2006 edition of the Des Smith.
Driven by Sylvain Filion and trained by Erv Miller, Lisagain, a five-year-old son of Dragon Again-Lisheen, tussled with Dalhousie Dave and Legal Litigator to the quarter pole in :26.1 before Legal Litigator forged his way to the top. It was a short-lived lead, however, for Legal Litigator who watched Lisagain pop off the rail and reclaim the lead.
Lisagain motored to the mid-way point in :53.4 with Dalhousie Dave applying pressure from his unenviable first-over position. Lisagain opened up by a pair of lengths on the pocket-sitting Legal Litigator at the three-quarter pole in 1:21.1, but Art Professor, who was fifth and third over on the rim, started a three-wide rally with the final quarter remaining. Lisagain dug in when called on to do so by Filion, and his :28.1 final quarter was enough to hold on for the half-length score over Art Professor in 1:49.2. Casie Coleman trainees, Lucky Man and Legal Litigator, finished third and fourth, respectively, with the lone supplemental entrant in this year’s field, Alexie Mattosie, grabbing the fifth-place cheque.
Sent off as the even-money choice in the $177,750 affair, Lisagain improved his 2011 record to 4-2-1 in 10 starts for the partnership of the Ervin Miller Stable Inc, Mystical Marker Farms LLC, D And M Trading LLC and Mary Jane Anderson. It was the 17th lifetime tally for the pacer, who has banked more than $191,000 this season and close to $600,000 in his career.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Rideau Carleton Raceway.
It was a real thrill to
It was a real thrill to witness Canadian Standardbred history. Rideau Carleton hosted a tremendous evening of racing and entertainment that I will never forget. It's also great to see Rideau prodigy Sylvain Filion drive to victory on his homecoming night. What a great tradition the Des Smith Classic is, bringing out the top drivers, trainers and horses in the sport. I tip my hat to the entire Rideau Carleton staff for making the night such a memorable one, thank you!
Great race!...and the "woo
Great race!...and the "woo whoo" at the end of Norm's race call put a smile on my face...we all know that feeling whether 2:09.2, 1:59.2 or 1:49.2!