Leamington Raceway wrote its 2023 season opener into the books on Sunday (Aug. 13) with Acefortyfour Angel taking a gate-to-wire trip to establish the first win of the year on the Leamington, Ont. oval.
Sent from post four on a beeline to the top by her trainer, Nick Steward, Acefortyfour Angel maintained a two-length advantage as she clicked out panels in :28, :58 and 1:30.2. D A True Love (Mario Baillargeon) closed sharply, but was no match for Acefortyfour Angel, who won by a neck in 2:00.4. Allstar Smiles (Dan Clements) rounded out the top three.
Colin Densley Burrows owns the sophomore Dali filly as she won her second race in nine career starts. Acefortyfour Angel paid $3.10 to win.
Baillargeon and Watch Your Mouth (pictured above) opened up Prospect Series action on the card, making every pole a winning one in the second race and $8,500 division for freshman colts.
Watch Your Mouth (Hes Watching-Hudson Gal) posted fractions in :28.3, 1:01.1 and 1:32.2 before winning his second race in four starts by a half length in 2:01.1 for trainer Harry Poulton and owner Anco Capital Mgmt Inc. Wild Doc Holliday (Donald Rankin) finished second and Bettors Rush (Garrett Rooney) took the show spot.
Jayport Beach Boy used a similar tactic to win his $8,500 Prospect Series split for the young males and was driven by his trainer, Baillargeon.
Baillargeon geared the McWicked-Beachy Girl son up from post four to advance to the top and hand out fractions in :28.1, 1:00.3 and 1:29.4. With a last quarter in :30.4, Jayport Beach Boy notched his second win in four starts by 3-1/2 lengths in 2:00.3. Macwow (Rooney) finished second with Psycho Path (Andy Moore) third. Thestable Jayportbeachyboy owns the winner.
Baillargeon doubled up in series training wins as he and his pupil Mc Paisley controlled the tempo in a $8,600 Prospect Series division for two-year-old fillies.
From post six, Mc Paisley (McWicked-Mach Star) grabbed the lead and kept on going through panels in :29, 1:01 and 1:33 before winning by two lengths in 2:01.1 for owner Thestable Mc Paisley. Second went to Diamond Girl (Rooney) with Cheddarisbetter (Rankin) third.
Well Assessed won her $8,700 split with the only trip of the evening series that was not a gate-to-wire triumph.
Steward and the Bob McIntosh trainee got away fourth at the quarter in :28.2, moved first over at the half in :59.4, maintained the outer flow through the three-quarters in 1:29.4 and then prevailed by a neck in a photo finish. Owned by Robert McIntosh Stables Inc., C S X Stables and Dave Boyle, Well Assessed (Sunshine Beach-Well Pondered) stopped the timer in her debut appearance in 2:01. Acefortyfour Lady (Baillargeon) was second, a neck in front of Cheddar Crossing (Rooney).
The eighth race of the card featured the Chris 'Chico' Rogers Memorial Race, won by Jane Diamond in 1:58 for driver/trainer Ondrej Gois. Friends and family of Rogers gathered in the winner's cirle after the race to honour the late horseman, who passed away on July 8. Every Sunday, Rogers would be found warming up horses at the half-mile Leamington oval and would always take the time to talk to fans.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.