It was a big night for Shadow Promises Friday at the Yorkton Exhibition track as the six-year-old gelding paced a 2:02.1 mile to take the lion's share of the $6,850 purse in the Saskatchewan Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association Prairie Pace
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Shadow Promises was piloted by Glenn LeDrew, and was the first career win for trainer Gary Dunbar of Richardson, Sask., who owns the horse along with his wife Carole.
Kalahari Riff and Kevin Siever were second, and Kevin Sampson and O JS Boy third.
LeDrew said it was a good mile for Shadow Promises. “He hasn't raced that much this year. He's had a lot of time off,” said LeDrew, adding that as a result they have had a hard time getting the horse in top race condition. With that in mind, LeDrew said in previous races he hasn't been taking the horse to the lead early. “... I though I'd give him a try tonight.”
However, once in the lead Riff came charging at the quarter-mile pole.
“I knew if Riff got by we'd probably end up second best,” said LeDrew, who got enough from Promises to force Siever to tuck in to the second hole. “... I still wasn't real happy to see Riff coming so early.”
From there Riff ended up boxed in, and LeDrew was able to hold off the rest of the field.
“We had a little bit of luck in the race too,” he said.
That said it was a quick mile.
“He [Promises] never got a break through the entire mile,” said LeDrew. “He really raced his heart out tonight.”
Gary Dunbar said it was a gratifying win, considering they have been in the business for years. The couple bought their first standardbred in the 1970s, were out of the business for a time, then returned to it in 1996.
Dunbar said he had his trainer's incense in the past, but focused on preparing young stock. Now he has renewed the license with Shadow Promises earning him his first trainer's win.
“I don't know a lot about training,” he said, adding in many ways Shadow Promises “is actually teaching me.”
Shadow Promises is also something of a spoiled horse. Dunbar said he doesn't like Yorkton water, so he hauls Regina water in containers up to the track for the horse.
“Anything he wants we give him,” he said with a grin.
While Dunbar has had a World Championship with a Hackney pony, which is his equine career highlight, he said the training win certainly feels good too.”
It was also a huge night for Brian Gray, who was in the winner's circle three times on the night, plus having a second and third.
The biggest win of the three for Gray came in the Saskatchewan Horse Federation Feature, as he took Way Outa Bounds, owned by Joe Soloninko of Wroxton to top spot in a time of 2:02.4. Laurie Bell had Pedicure in for second, with Tyler Redwood third with Get Out of Town.
Gray said he has driven Way Outa Bounds for Soloninko a few times in the past, and had good races, and it was another good one Friday.
“When I talked to her around the last turn she responded really, really good,” he said.
Gray also had a win in the opening race of the card getting a crisp 2:01.3 mile out of Four KG Whitesocks. It was the second straight win for the seven-year-old gelding, and third straight top-three finish.
Gray said getting a win in the first race sort of took the pressure off for the rest of the night. “Then the pressures off. Then it's fun,” he said with a smile.
Gray said it was a big race for Whitesocks. “That was probably the fastest he's gone the last couple of years,” he said. “He raced really good. I'm really happy with him."
It has been a case where Gray said Whitesocks “seemed to be hibernating” earlier in the season. “But, he's come back in a big way. He's seemed to have realized he can come from behind.”
Gray's third win was with Pumpjack, who topped Race 3 of the card in a time of 2:03.2. It was also Pumpjack's second straight win, and sixth straight start finishing in the top-three.
“Pumpjack's just a solid horse, no matter where he starts,” said Gray.
The third feature of the night was the Custom Printers sponsored sixth race. Dynes At The Beach with Ryan Grundy earned the win for local owner Perry Trost. It was the five-year-old gelding's seventh straight top-three finish, and second straight win. The winning time was the best of the night at 2:00.4, ahead of Bubblemint and Kevin Sampson in second and Glenn LeDrew with Power Maid in third.
(Yorkton Exhibition)