The four-year-old Mach Three gelding Pretty Handsome cleared control past the quarter and withstood a late challenge from pocket-popper Mckinney to win the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace at Georgian Downs on Sunday, June 9.
Driver Jonathan Drury circled past pylon-starter Mckinney to lead the field after a :27.3 opening quarter. Mckinney sat tightly from the pocket through a :58.2 half while Imsporty, sitting third, ranged first over towards the leader into a 1:26 third quarter. Pretty Handsome held a length lead into the stretch but Mckinney slimmed that margin towards the finish, coming a head shy of victory in the 1:53.4 mile. Imsporty settled for third.
Owned by Glenview Livestock Ltd., Pretty Handsome won his fifth race from 14 starts this season and his 18th from 34 overall, earning $190,350. Andrew McCabe conditions the $3.30 winner.
Cenalta Call Girl circled past fading cover and surged to a length-and-a-quarter victory in the $10,500 Fillies and Mares Preferred 2 Pace.
Odds-on favourite Shadow World led the field past a :26.4 opening quarter before facing a first-over blitz from Top Royal as the tempo slowed to a :57.3 half. Top Royal promptly retreated as Cenalta Call Girl caught her cover, forcing the five-year-old Allamerican Merlin mare three wide approaching a 1:25.2 third quarter. Cenalta Call Girl ranged towards Shadow World through the stretch and edged past to win in 1:53.2. Pocket-sitter War Filly finished third.
Co-owned by trainer Pam Forgie with Dr. Steve Taylor, Cenalta Call Girl won her sixth race from 20 starts this season and her 21st from 65 overall, earning $127,887. Scott Young steered the $9.60 winner.
Big Time Sunrise pulled an upset in the $8,500 Preferred 3 Pace, surging past odds-on favourite Jaydens Place late to win in 1:53.1.
Jaydens Place took command from Evasive Card Shark past a :27 opening quarter and led the field to a :56 half. Toot Toot N, parked from the start, progressed towards the pacesetter at the half and stuck to his side passing a 1:24.2 third quarter. Toot Toot N lost ground while Joes Bid, from second over, tipped off cover turning into the stretch. Room opened for Big Time Sunrise to angle from the three hole and the seven-year-old Lusty Leader gelding rallied to the lead late in the stretch to win by three-quarter lengths. Jaydens Place held second from Joes Bid in third.
Trainer-driver Preston Shaw co-owns Big Time Sunrise with Debra Stouten and Shannon Bell. The $25.40 winner collected his second victory from nine starts this season and his 12th from 78 overall, pushing his earnings towards the $100,000 mark.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Georgian Downs.