Nothing separated April Duford and Made Of Magic at the line in the $5,200 Preferred 3 Handicap Trot at Hiawatha Horse Park on Saturday, Aug. 9.
Made Of Magic flew off the wings from post three to claim the early lead while April Duford dropped back to fourth from the pylon post. Lorne House ordered :28.2 and 1:00 splits from Made Of Magic, and the field raced single-file to the midway point when April Duford began to roll first-over. Made Of Magic looked to give his rivals the slip to three-quarters in 1:28.3, but April Duford reeled him in and rolled alongside him on the final turn.
They duelled down the lane, and April Duford bridged Made Of Magic’s narrow advantage to cross the line together with him in 1:58.1. Wrap And A Hooey (Natasha Day) charged late to make it a three-across finish but was a half-length back in third.
April Duford, who returned $3.10 as the favourite, took her 10th win of the season in 25 starts. The five-year-old has won five of her past seven outings in the Sarnia, Ont. oval's Preferred ranks. Ashley Duford trains the homebred Il Sogno Dream-Cha Cha Slide mare for Dennis Duford of Dresden, Ont. She has won 20 of 82 lifetime starts.
Made Of Magic ($4.40) improved to three-for-14 on the season for owner/trainer Dean Wall of London, Ont. The gelded son of Lookslikeachpndale-Boots N Hearts is now 15-for-64 lifetime.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hiawatha Horse Park.
(Standardbred Canada)