Life Is Better ground out a parked-out win in the Ken Houston Memorial Pace at Dresden Raceway Sunday afternoon (July 25) for Garrett Rooney in 1:58.1.
Favourite Bigmachwithcheese put in some steps through the first turn and broke stride before the quarter pole, totally shifting the dynamics of the race.
Dreaming Out Loud fired to the front for Tyler Borth, while Millenium Seelster slipped into the two-hole and left Life Is Better was caught out.
"Being parked out wasn't the best option but I also knew going to the back would have been a death sentence, so I just stayed out there," said Rooney. "My horse raced big. I was just hoping that I would have some left down the stretch and that he (Borth) might tire a little bit."
Dreaming Out Loud set fractions of 28.1, 58.3 and 1:28.3 before Life Is Better took over in deep stretch.
Life Is Better is a five-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding owned by trainer Ken Mathieson and Harry Banakiewicz.
Dreaming Out Loud and Borth finished second, while Leafs And Wings and Johnathan Hahn finished third.
The annual race honours local hockey player Ken Houston, who played nine seasons in the National Hockey League with Atlanta, Calgary, Washington and Los Angeles, and was also a lifetime regular at Dresden Raceway. Houston passed away in 2018.
Scott Wray had a great day at the track as he scored five winners on the day for the first time in his career. Wray visited the winner's circle with three Lindsey Kerr trainees including Bettor Attitude, R Thinking Monster and Literally Hanover, along with Shakeitifyougotit and Smile in Style.
Total handle for the day at Dresden Raceway was $36,741, including over $17,000 wagered on track.
To view Sunday's complete results, click the following link: Sunday Results – Dresden Raceway.
(Dresden Raceway)