It was a hot and hazy night as the standardbreds raced at Cornerstone Raceway in Yorkton Friday.
And through the first six races six different drivers had piloted their horses to the winner's circle, including Edward Tracey with Skittles N Beer topping the night's feature race sponsored by ChickenCow's Hearing Centre Ltd. It was the first night of racing in Yorkton this season for Tracey, who beat out Tyler Redwood and Ignite The Spark and Kevin Sampson with Found My Desire.
All eyes were on race seven of the card as Judges Discretion was looking for her eighth straight win, coming out of the tough trailing eighth-hole. Getting away sixth, Tyler Redwood made a push with the mare down the stretch, but could not catch Clayton Braybrook and Als Dream Gal. The streak looked to be over.
But there was a judge's inquiry, and Braybrook would be placed back to second based on interference in the last half of the race, with Judges Discretion moved up for the win, keeping the streak alive.
The placing also gave Redwood his second win on the night having scored in race two with Willie Go MJJZ.
In the eighth and last race on the card, Sampson also earned his second win of the night taking Red Star Best to the top spot, the gelding's third straight win and fourth in five starts. Redwood was second with Marlowe, with Braybrook aboard with Thief Onthe Run.
Sampson said Red Star Best is "a nice old horse" at 10 years of age, and he is racing well in recent weeks. "He's fairly sound. He's just a classy old horse and in the right class [$2,000 claimers]."
Sampson said getting horses into the right class "is everything" since it allows them to compete against horses with similar abilities.
Asked if Red Star Best could go on a winning run like Judges Discretion, Sampson said "definitely he could," adding "tonight when I got him to the front nobody was getting by him."
Sampson had won earlier in the night with Simply Dynamite.
"He's a fast little horse off the wings," he said, adding he seems to like racing off the front too.
For Sampson the two wins continue a steady season in Yorkton. He said it comes down to horses and experiences.
"I have some pretty descent horses, some nice horses to drive," he said.
Sampson also credited his experience on the track coming into play.
"I'm probably a little more patient now," he said, adding racing every week has made him more comfortable and confident on the track.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Yorkton Exhibition.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Calvin Daniels)