Fresh off a victory just five days ago, American Risk was a 1:54.4 repeat winner in the Winners Over Handicap Pace at Truro Raceway on Friday evening, July 12.
Todd Trites was in the bike this time out as American Risk out-sprinted the four inside starters off the gate to the opening quarter mark in :26.3 and cruised through middle splits of :57 and 1:26.3. The 1-9 favourite was no match for his foes in the $2,500 feature as he stepped away through the stretch to end up 4-1/2 lengths in front at the end of the mile. Brumby (Robert Laffin) and Rockin Corona (Darren Crowe) followed in second and third, respectively.
American Risk paid $2.30 to win and $2.10 to place. There was no show wagering.
The eight-year-old American Ideal-Kissing Bandit gelding is locally owned by the Risky Bizz Group and completed a training triple on the 11-race card for George Rennison. American Risk has won four of his last five starts and now has 38 victories lifetime.
As part of Truro Raceway's second annual Distance Day, the Nova Scotia half-mile track carded six races on Friday at unconventional distances, ranging from a quarter-mile sprint to 1-1/4-miles.
Two new Canadian records were established for a half-mile track with the Rennison-trained Top Of Her Trade sprinting a quarter-mile through the turn in :26.1 for the rarely used race distance in rein to Trites and Fifth Estate pacing three-quarters of a mile in 1:24.4 for trainer/driver Ernie Laffin.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice by the bettors, Top Of Her Trade ($6.20) took full advantage of her inside post, out-leaving favourite The Ying Yang, who finished second 1-1/4 lengths back. The former Canadian record of :29.4 was set by Bradley Pond Gene at Summerside Raceway in 2002. Top Of Her Trade also bested the former North American record of :27, which was set by Hes A Beachboy at Thunder Ridge Racing in 2011. The seven-year-old mare by Bolt The Duer out of Career Success is owned by Andrea Rennison and Corey Pickrem.
Risin Horizon was looking to defend his record at a distance of three-quarters of a mile set during Truro's inaugural Distance Day last July, but found himself parked out leaving and was not able to contend with Well Lets See as he blazed through opening fractions on the front of :27.1 and :55.4. But the longest shot on the board, Fifth Estate ($69.20), left between those rivals to secure the pocket trip and was able to march on by in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length over Well Lets See, breaking Risin Horizon's former Canadian record of 1:25.1. The six-year-old Country Estate-In Front gelding is owned by Michelle Patriquin.
To view Friday's complete harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Truro Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada with files from Truro Raceway)