P T Stable's Southwind Dredge improved to two-for-two in the Diane "Mum" Stevenson Memorial, for claiming pacers, with a dominant 8-3/4-length win in his $12,329 second-leg division on Thursday (July 18) at Ocean Downs.
Russell Foster bided his time with Southwind Dredge, sitting third off a :28 first-quarter duel between Righthererightnow and Luckisontheway before moving first-over with a lap to go. After collaring Righthererightnow at the 1:25.4 three-quarters, the seven-year-old Bettors Delight gelding sped away to a 1:54.2 score while pursued by runner-up Point Place. Squinta A recovered from an early break to save third.
Crissy Crissman-Bier trains 23-time winner Southwind Dredge, who paid $3.40 to win as the 3-5 favourite.
The other second-round division winners were Make Some Waves ($22.20, Cole Olsen, 1:55.3), The Moonshadow N ($5.40, Trae Porter, 1:54.3) and Bet On Buter ($11.00, Johnathan Ahle, 1:54.3).
All horses entered in the second round of the Stevenson Memorial were eligible to be claimed for a base tag of $10,000 USD. That amount will increase to $12,500 USD on Aug. 1, when the series reconvenes for its third and final preliminary leg.
Trae Porter led all drivers with three wins on the 12-race card.
Live racing returns to Ocean Downs on Sunday (July 21); the 11-race card features a $12,000 USD Open 1 Handicap Pace. First post is 7:05 p.m.
(Ocean Downs Racing)