With the mercury pushed past 30 degrees Celsius and the humidity making it feel hotter, the standardbreds still took to the track at Cornerstone Raceway in Yorkton for a rare Tuesday night card
.
Two of the young guns of Saskatchewan racing found the heat to their liking, as Blake Piwniuk and Tyler Redwood both made multiple trips to the winner's circle.
Piwniuk had a trio of wins, including piloting Stonebridge Camlot to top spot in the Cornerstone Credit Union Feature Race, where the duo finished ahead of Power Maid (driven by Robert Baxter) and Twentyten (Donald Tracey).
Piwniuk said Stonebridge Camlot had a great trip.
"He was tough tonight. Just the trip went well," he said. "He's got class and it came out."
Piwniuk also won the first race on the card with Jomars Undapants and the third with Weinrichtimes.
While Stonebridge Camlot topped a feature race, Piwniuk said he felt the big win of his night was with Weinrichtimes.
"That was probably the biggest race to win tonight," he said, adding the four-year-old mare is probably his favourite in his barn right now.
"She's fast," he said, adding she is a full sister to Interstate Five. "She has as much talent and might be quicker in stretches … I really like her."
The three wins was equalled by Redwood, including topping the second feature race of the night, which was sponsored by Yorkton Toyota. He drove Ignite The Spark to the win in 1:59, thus equalling the best time of the 2011 season to-date in Yorkton, as he pulled away from Rob Roy Blue Chip (Edward Tracey) and Bigtime Jackpot (Robert Baxter).
Redwood said the quick time out of Ignite The Spark was in-part weather-driven.
"It's the weather," he said, noting the track has been quick in recent weeks, but very hot weather traditionally trims times.
"When it's real hot they always race better," he said, adding the Little Brown Jug is often raced with the humidity pushing real temperatures to near 45 degrees Celsius.
"And we went fast today."
That said Redwood said Ignite The Spark's time was a bit of a surprise.
"I didn't think it (the race) would go like that," he said, but then added "… He is probably the best three ($3,000) claimer on the grounds."
Redwood won race two with Minettas Liberty and race four with Premium Cigar.
For results from Tuesday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Yorkton.
(A Trot Insider exclusive by Calvin Daniels)