Trainer Trevor Williams and driver Blake Piwniuk were the stars of the Miami Fair Saturday, July 18. The two teamed to dominate the card, winning five of the 10 races on the program, including one of the two featured Open Handicaps.
Piwniuk steered the Williams-trained Always Gonna B You to a 12-length romp in the Fillies & Mares Open Handicap, pacing the mile in 2:00.2. Drawing outside in the field of five, Always Gonna B You raced off the pylons for most of the opening half (1:00.2) and managed to push to the lead racing to the three-quarter station (1:30.1). Once in front, the mare stepped away from the field. Early leader Hurry Home was second followed by Tami Blue in third. The Always A Virgin-Passing Fancy mare is owned by Willams, of Landmark, Man. in partnership with Tara Isman of Gladstone, Man. and Garett Isman of Calgary, Alta.
The performance produced the largest margin of victory on the card, and it tied for the fastest mile on the program. The time was matched by Credit Is Magic, winner of the finale and the fifth tally on the day for both trainer and driver. The nine-year-old Up The Credit-Magic Number gelding, owned by David Mooney of Wawanesa, Man. and Michael Williams of Winnipeg, Man., assumed the lead to win by four.
The first in the string of five winners came in the day’s second event as Take Out Hanover assumed the lead while racing first up to the half (1:02.3). The four-year-old remained in control through the wire, winning by 5-1/2 lengths in 2:01.1. The conditioner also owns the Stay Hungry-Tempest Blue Chip gelding.
The trainer-driver team would only place one favoured horse in the winner’s circle when Piwniuk piloted the Williams-owned sophomore Justcruiseonby to a 1-1/4-length score in a time of 2:07.2. The Lambretta-Blinkanyoumissit colt was co-favoured with third-place finisher Have One On Me.
Tempete, another sophomore owned and trained by Williams, rounded out the five-bagger for the two men. Unlike the other victories, the Domethatagain-Seawind Gabriella filly moved to the front and set every fraction on the way to a 1-1/4-length victory, stopping the clock in 2:02.3.
Ginger Tree Finny and Michel Ray annexed the Horses & Geldings Open Handicap by virtue of a wire-to-wire performance, tripping the timer in 2:05.3. Van Goghing Fast, driven by Marc Fillion, finished 1-1/2-lengths behind the favourite while Appoggiatura and Clayton Braybrook raced third. The eight-year-old Captaintreacherous-Ideal Weather gelding is trained by Richard Ray for owner Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener, Ont.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Miami Fair.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of racing at the Miami Fair)