With the Yorkton Exhibition Association holding its annual summer fair this week racing at Cornerstone Raceway in the city was moved to Saturday
.
After three days of pony chuckwagon and chariot races, which like a softer track, the graders were brought in to get the dirt oval back in shape for the standardbreds, and they did a great job as Brian Gray drove Intheghetto to top spot in Race 3 on the card in a crisp 2:00, top time of the Yorkton meet to date this year. Interstate Five for driver Blake Piwniuk was second, and Terry Kaufman was third with Red Star Best.
Gray said the five-year-old Intheghetto is a horse that has ability.
"He's capable of that," said Gray, adding it was a different atmosphere for the horses with the noise of the nearby midway and its rides, and a larger crowd. "He was certainly wound up."
At the same time, Gray said a week earlier Intheghetto showed promise, but couldn't make a second move when needed and settled for third.
"This time he got a good trip," said Gray, adding, "he was sitting close," and had to make only one move to make a push for the finish. "He's been sitting on a win.”
Still at the finish Gray said he wasn't sure he had held on.
Black Mac, with Tyler Redwood having the drive, equalled the 2:00 mark in the feature Yorkton Mile, Race 5 on the card. Gray was second with Rob Roy Blue Chip, while Piwniuk drove Barona Fivehundred to third.
Redwood also had a win in Race 2 with Minettas Liberty.
Gray was also a two-race winner taking Saatog Sonic May to the winner's circle in the Bert Dalglish Memorial Mile, Race 4 on the card. Kaufman had Sophio Hanover to a place finish, with Redwood and Premium Cigar the show finisher.
It was another close finish for Gray.
"I didn't think I'd won that one," he said, adding the four-year-old mare "did it the hard way," carrying most of the race from the front.
Gray said Saatog Sonic May also had to deal with a knee brace that fell out of place. He said the same brace fell done on Stagger Lee a week earlier, and both mare's overcame the inconvenience for wins. "They just kept going." He added, "That knee brace is going on the bush. It's no good."
Gray said Saatog Sonic May was racing in Alberta, but wasn't quite good enough for that level of competition. In Yorkton she's picking up some cheques and making some money though.
Terry Kaufman also drove a pair of winners, with Naknak Whodare taking Race 1, and Found My Desire winning Race 7.
To view results for Saturday’s card of harness racing, click the following link: Saturday Results – Yorkton Exhibition.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Calvin Daniels)