Miami Fair’s Saturday (July 25) card featured the opening rounds of the Silk Lace and the Golden Boy, the former for Manitoba-bred fillies and the latter for provincial-bred colts. Favourites delivered in each event, doing so with decisive performances.
Da Little Beast took command early and widened his advantage in progress to a 2:02.4 win by six lengths in the lone division of the Golden Boy. The three-year-old gelding by In The Irons endured first-over pressure from Verns Wish through fractions of :30.1 and 1:01.3 before turning that challenger away and kicking clear. Opening four lengths past three-quarters in 1:32.1, Da Little Beast extended his lead through the stretch while chased by Munchie Chris, who took second. Two Shoes closed for third.
A homebred for trainer Arthur Rey, Da Little Beast remains undefeated in three starts while earning $4,719. Dean Rey drove the $3.30 winner.
Follow Your Nose vaulted off a stalking trip in the Silk Lace to score by seven lengths in a 2:00.3 mile. Away third from the second tier, Follow Your Nose sat as Miso Classy led the field past the quarter in :29.4 and to the half in 1:00.3. Moving to the backstretch, driver Don Howlett gave Follow Your Nose her cue and rushed uncovered towards the front, taking a narrow lead past three-quarters in 1:30.3. The Toucam Sam filly powered past Miso Classy rounding the final turn and drew away by six lengths to win. Miso Classy settled for second with Runaway Heiress, off a pocket trip, taking third.
Co-owned by trainer Trevor Williams with Michael Williams, Follow Your Nose won her fourth race from 10 starts this season and her sixth from 13 overall, earning $23,638. She paid $2.80 to win.
Saskabush Steve scored a near wire-to-wire win in the $2,450 Open Handicap Pace. Trainer-driver Don Howlett sent the four-year-old Lambretta gelding to the front and led through early fractions of :30 and 1:01.3, but lost the lead narrowly when Outlaw Kismet challenged first over moving to three-quarters in 1:31.1. Outlaw Kismet clung to command into the stretch but gave way as Saskabush Steve surged back to the lead late in the stretch to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths in 2:00.2. Outlaw Kismet held second while Wrangler Cash closed for third.
Owned by Wanda Howlett and Dwayne Taylor, Saskabush Steve won his first race from three starts this season and his ninth from 19 overall, earning $23,161. He paid $8.40 to win.
Somewhere Ideal scored in the race prior with a wire-to-wire win as the 1-9 favourite in the $2,350 Fillies and Mares Open Pace. Also trained and driven by Don Howlett, the four-year-old American Ideal mare protected position from the pylon post and took the field through fractions of :30.3, 1:02.1 and 1:31.4 in progress to a 2:02.2 victory by two lengths over Yourlipstogodsears. Sprinttothefinish rallied for third.
Winning her third race from seven starts this season and her eighth from 32 overall, Somewhere Ideal has earned $30,782 for owners Wanda Howlett and Dwayne Taylor. She paid $2.10 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Miami.