Greg Price had a perfect, if not stressful opening day at Leamington Raceway on Sunday, Aug. 10 as his trainees went three-for-three on the 10-race card with two close finishes.
Toscano Girl ($4.40) provided a nail-biting first win for Price, circling the field to take the third race in a three-horse photo. Last of five at the top of the lane after racing second-over, she rocketed home to pip duelling leaders Duke Deo (Anthony Hamlin) and Jooner (Dennis Duford) at the line and win by a head in 2:04. Duke Deo came out second in the photo. Toscano Girl has won her first two starts since moving to the Price barn last month, with Garrett Rooney in the bike for both.
After the tight finish in the third, Gypsy Merlot ($3.70) gave Price no worries as she jogged in the sixth race, winning by 7-1/2 lengths in 1:58.4 with Rooney aboard.
Cheese So Pretty ($3), also driven by Rooney, went last-to-first in the eighth race to conclude the triple for Price. She pulled three-wide entering the final turn and defeated Rye N Clyne (Don Rankin) in a hard-fought stretch duel to win by a head in 1:59.3.
Price won with three of his four 2025 starters on the card — Wrap And A Hooey was a late-charging third at Hiawatha Horse Park yesterday. The Wheatley, Ont. resident has tallied seven times in 23 starts this season.
Rooney, who also won the finale for a grand slam on the card, will look to go wire-to-wire in the drivers’ standings and defend his title.
The ninth race was declared a no contest after Kenny Joe, driven by Natasha Day, broke a line approaching the quarter. Day took the gelding to the safety lane and eventually pulled him up by bringing him into the infield after travelling most of another lap. No horses or drivers were injured. All single-race wagers were refunded.
Leamington will race on Sunday afternoons every week until Nov. 2. First post will be 1 p.m. on all 12 upcoming cards.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Toscano Girl winning on Aug. 10)