Making his first start at Woodstock Raceway, the Preferred trotter Titan Park turned in a wire-to-wire score to take home the lion’s share of the $17,500 purse for Canada’s leading trainer in the wins category, Rene Allard
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Titan Park and driver Brad Forward, sent postward as the 5-1 third choice, left the gate from Post 6 and established a two-length lead on the field through early panels of :28 and :57. The six-year-old son of Credit Winner faced his first challenge as he approached the three-quarters mark in 1:27. At that point, the pocket-sitting Indiana Hall (Bill O’Donnell) launched a first-over bid and applied pressure on the outside. Titan Park, however, pressed on down the lane and managed to hold on by a nose to win in 1:57.2. The favoured Brawn Seelster (Callie Rankin) rounded out the top three finishers.
Allard shares ownership of the bay gelding with Ferne and Jack Frydman of Thornhill, Ont. Titan Park has made nine trips to the winner’s circle this year in 20 outings and has earned $74,920 in the process. The 35-time career winner has banked a total of $213,439.
The second leg of the Oxford County Trotting Series for three-year-olds and up was also featured Saturday afternoon at the Woodstock half-miler and there weren’t too many surprises for the betting public with favourites winning four of the five $10,000 divisions.
Driver Bruce Richardson, who celebrated his 2,000th career win three days ago at Hanover Raceway, engineered a first-over trip aboard J N Baroness resulting in a two-length 2:04.2 score for the favoured Brian Dunbar-trained filly. Unraced at two, the sophomore daughter of Berndt Hanover, who was victorious in the opening leg of the series, won for the third time in eight outings lifting her earnings to over $17,000. Dunbar shares ownership with Dorothy Dunbar of Palmerston, Ont.
Favourite Muggles front-stepped her way to a 2:03.4 victory with trainer Terry Kerr in the bike in the second split. The three-year-old daughter of Muscles Yankee held off a strong closing Phantom Piper (Stuart Sowerby) by a nose to win for the fourth straight time in five outings this year. Douglas Millard of Woodstock, Ont. owns Muggles, who increased her 2009 bankroll to $17,750 with the triumph.
Driver Ross Battin and Pc Cutting Edge, who was placed second in her first leg division, won for the first time in her career for owner/trainer Curtis Clements. The four-year-old Duke Of York mare carved out all the panels en route to a 2:03.3 victory by a length and a quarter over the favoured Bee Sparky (Terry Kerr). In her debut season, Pc Cutting Edge has recorded one win and three second-place finishes in seven starts earning $11,665.
Heavy favourite Chinnys Wings scored her fourth consecutive win in the fastest split of the day for trainer/driver Doug Bowins. The four-year-old gelding rallied from off the pace to score in 2:01.4 by six lengths. Chinnys Wings is co-owned by Bowins and Donald Brinkman of East Coulee, Alta. Unraced at two and three, the son of Armbro Ricochet won for the 11th time in 16 starts lifting his bankroll to over $46,000.
The final division was won by William Megen’s Cacao Rust, who used front-end tactics to score his fourth win in 12 tries this year. Coming off a third-place finish in last week’s opening round, the three-year-old son of Mr Lavec won in 2:02 by a length and a half. The win bumped his bankroll to $23,303.
The $25,000 (added) final of the Oxford Trotting Series is scheduled for next Saturday, July 25.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click here.