Blake Piwniuk piloted five victories Saturday, Aug. 22 at The Loop, teaming with trainer Trevor William for three winners. The tallies included a dominant effort with Justcruiseonbye in a $4,398 Great Western elimination, winning by eight lengths in a time of 2:02.1.
In a race reduced to a field of five, Piwniuk sent favourite Justcruiseonbye to the lead when the wings folded. The Williams trainee commanded the field with fractions of :30.4, 1:01.2 and 1:32.4. Up by 5-1/2 lengths at the top of the lane, Justcruiseonbye did just that on the way to the winner’s circle. Buddys Sneakers (Darryl Mason), Trackn A Bandit (Michel Rey) and Jimmys Rockin (Tyler Grundy) rounded out the top four to advance to the final.
The victory was the fourth in the last six starts for the Lambretta-Blinkanyoumissit colt. Williams, of Winnipeg, Man. owns Justcruisonbye, now a winner in five of 20 lifetime attempts with earnings of $20,946.
Piwniuk also reached the winner's circle with Jessica Girl ($4.10) in the opener, second choice Farmers Speed ($4), Subzero ($32) and De La Cruz ($4.40) in the finale. Farmers Speed and De La Cruz were also Williams-trained entries.
Gracie Ghost dominated the first $4,398 Great Western #79 division, winning in gate-to-wire fashion in 2:00.3. Guided by trainer Clayton Braybrook, the filly started from the outside in a scratch-shortened field of five. Saddled as the favourite, the sophomore moved to the top and never looked back, setting fractions of :30.2, 1:01 and 1:31.3. Well in hand turning for home, Gracie Ghost dashed home in 29 seconds to win by 4-1/2 lengths. Farroh Fawcett, steered by Rey, was a distant second, with Buzznlikeabumblbee (Richard Remillard) third and Playtime Jimmy (Cory Manning) finishing fourth to advance to the final.
Gracie Ghost is a Mr Rock-Alot Of Sense filly owned by Alice Gilbert of Brandon, Man. Unraced as a freshman, she has collected three wins in nine starts with earnings of $16,008.
Take Out Hanover set an all-age track record at The Loop earlier this month on opening day. He matched his own 1:57.2 mark Saturday on his way to winning the $3,900 Open Pace in wire-to-wire fashion, his sixth straight.
Lining up fourth in a field of five, Mason sent the slight second choice to the lead. On the engine, Take Out Hanover led the field to each station, setting splits of :29, :58.3 and 1:28.1. He handily won by 3-3/4 lengths, followed across the line by favourite Catch Me Oliver (Blake Piwniuk) and St Lads Beat It (Rey).
Take Out Hanover is a four-year-old gelded son of Stay Hungry-Tempest Blue Chip, trained by Sherri Mason. Owned by Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener, Ont., the pacer has won eight times this season, hitting the board in 15 of 23 starts. His bankroll now stands at $88,117.
Kootenay Cocoa, sent off at 14-1, scored an upset in the $3,900 Fillies And Mares Open Handicap, pacing to a 2:00.1 victory. Guided by Michel Rey, the five year old sat third as Acquired Taste and Manning led the field through fractions of :30, 1:00 and 1:30. Heavy favorite Always Gonna B You (Piwniuk) raced last early before moving three-wide on the backstretch to advance on the leader.
Rey was able to slide out from behind Acquired Taste and brush to the lead, opening up by 3-1/2 lengths at the finish. A surging Always Gonna B You took second in a tight finish with Tami Blue (Braybrook) and Acquired Taste.
Trained by Richard Rey, Kootenay Cocoa is a five-year-old Beren Hanover-Kootenay Mystic mare owned by Turnbull. The victory is the second seasonal and 15th in 37 career starts. She has earned $86,946 for her connections.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop
(Standardbred Canda)