Veteran East Coast pacer Distinctiv Rusty picked up where he left off last year, winning his season’s debut on Opening Day of Truro Raceway’s 2020 harness racing meet.
Conditioned by 2019 leading trainer George Rennison, the nine-year-old son of Rambaran led wire-to-wire in Friday's $1,675 top class with Ryan Ellis in the sulky. Distinctiv Rusty carved out fractions of :28.4, :58.2 and 1:27 en route to a 3-1/4 length victory in 1:56.4. Favourite Stars Above followed in second with Catch Twenty Two closing for third. The winner returned $5.70.
Distinctiv Rusty, who was victorious in his final three races of 2019 last November, upped his career win count to 35 and gave Rennison his 500th training tally. The brown pacer is owned by Andrea and Ryder Matthews Rennison.
The winning connections swept the late Daily Double with eight-year-old pacer Global Seelster ($8.20), who is also owned by Mallory Naugler, taking the seventh race finale.
The season opener was won by the career-debuting Sunshine Beach sophomore colt Mappos Lion ($3.10) and trainer/driver Clare MacDonald for owner/breeder Carol Campbell of Baddeck, N.S.
It was a delayed start to Truro's harness racing season after April and May race dates were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Live racing, which is currently being conducted without spectators and only essential staff on track, is scheduled to continue next Friday with post time set for 6:30 p.m.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results – Truro Raceway.