After a rain-out a week ago, and having Friday races pre-empted for tractor pulls, the standardbreds were back on the track at Yorkton Exhibition's Cornerstone Raceway Tuesday, August 23
.
The layoff didn't seem to bother driver Blake Piwniuk who had four wins, a second and two thirds from nine races.
Asked what the key was to such a big night, Piwniuk didn't take much of the credit. "It was the right classes and the right horses," he said, adding, "and the positions were huge today."
Two of his wins on the Tuesday card came from horses in Post 1 and 2. Piwniuk, 20, said he is also growing as a driver, and noted he is, "learning lots still."
The greatest education so far has come in knowing when to make a move in a race.
"I think quicker," he said, and added, "when I see a shot of daylight I react to it quicker." He said when just starting as a driver it was different. "When I was younger I hummed and hawed before making a move."
Piwniuk said another secret to his success is having sister Taylor Piwniuk working with him on race days. He said when driving in every race you need backstretch and paddock support.
"I notice when I get help I win more races," he said. "When there's no help there's no race wins either because you're running around doing everything you shouldn't be doing."
The wins started in the opening race of the night, when he guided Ambers Best to a win in the three-year-old gelding's first Yorkton start. Piwniuk said it was not a pretty win as the gelding broke, but added, "he just got here at 5 a.m. after a 16-hour trip, and he hadn't left his stall for two weeks before that."
Piwniuk's next win would not come until Race 7 with Stonebridge Camlot, but he would then make it three straight wins, as he captured Race 8 with Right On Willie and the final race of the night with Way Outa Bounds.
Of the wins, Piwniuk said getting to the winner's circle with Right On Willie was the one he enjoyed most.
"Right On Willie is Grandma's (owner/trainer Elaine Bell) pet. She bought that horse for pennies," he said. He also explained that because the horse is owned locally, there are a lot of supporters that go to the track for win pictures. "When he wins everybody is happy. Being part of that is great."
While Piwniuk had a big night when it came to the Yorkton Co-op Feature, it was Glenn LeDrew who made it to the winner's circle with Out Of Snorts over Brian Gray and Stagger Lee and Donald Tracey with Power Maid.
LeDrew said he got more than expected out of Out Of Snorts.
"She was good tonight. She was real calm in the paddock," he said before explaining that the mare has been a bit of a handful heading to the track at times.
Once on the track Out Of Snorts raced hard, said LeDrew.
"She went a big trip tonight," he said. "She did all the work. She was real good. I was real happy with her."
To view the results from the Tuesday card from the Yorkton Exhibition, click the following link: Tuesday - Yorkton Exhibition
(A Trot Insider exclusive by Calvin Daniels)