While the top three finishers in the 79th edition of the Great Western Stake weren't all that much of a surprise, having an eight-horse field finish in post position order definitely wasn't a predictable result.
But that's exactly what happened on Saturday, Aug. 29 at The Loop. Gracie Ghost ($4.30) delivered a wire-to-wire win in the $5,863 Great Western for three-year-olds. Trainer-driver Clayton Braybrook sent the favoured grey daughter of Mr Rock-Alot Of Sense away from the pylons and she wouldn't be bested from there. After fractions of :29.1, :59.4 and 1:30, Gracie Ghost flew away from her seven rivals in a decisive 1:59.1 effort. Justcruiseonbye (Blake Piwniuk) finished second, 5-1/2 lengths back with Farroh Fawcett (Michel Rey) about that many lengths back in third.
Owned by Alice Gilbert of Brandon, Man., Gracie Ghost now sports four wins from 10 starts with $18,939 in earnings.
Completing the order of finish:
In the $4,000 Fillies & Mares Open Handicap Pace, Nonversation ($14.20) and driver Richard Remillard popped the pocket on pacesetter Hurry Home (Darryl Mason) at the three-quarter mark and eventually wore down that rival while holding off another to win in 1:59.4.
Hurry Home handed out fractions of :29.1, :59.2 and 1:29.2 but couldn't keep the lead in the stretch, with Nonversation getting up and getting by late. Tami Blue (Braybrook) angled from third into the three path for the stretch drive, but ran out of real estate and finished three parts of a length back of Nonversation in second.
A six-year-old daughter of Mystician-Say Anything, Nonversation is owned by her driver, trainer Tara Isman of Gladstone, Man., Jim Wilson of Regina, Sask. and Trevor Williams of Winnipeg, Man. She's now a 24-time winner with more than $146,000 in purses earned.
Catch Me Oliver ($5) was parked for the first three-quarters of the mile in the $4,000 Open Pace, was then collared by local track record holder Take Out Hanover around the far turn, yet came back on to win in 1:58.
After challenging St Lads Beat It (Michel Rey) through fractions of :28.2, :57.1 and 1:27.2, Catch Me Oliver finally found the rail for driver Blake Piwniuk after the third quarter. He then faced a new challenge from Take Out Hanover (Darryl Mason), who looked clear turning for home. But Catch Me Oliver dug deep and fought back in the lane to win by 1-1/2 lengths. St Lads beat It completed the top trio.
Trained by Williams, who co-owns with Harness The Energy Inc. of Water Valley, Alta., six-year-old Catch Me Oliver (Mystician-Stelle Nel Cielo) picked up his 16th career win to push his earnings just shy of $99,000.
Top honours on the training side for Saturday went to Richard Rey, who tripled in overnight action thanks to driver Michel Rey and Trackn A Bandit (2:07.2; $8.80), Seafarer (2:00.1; $7) and Peytons Premiere (2:05.3; $3.30).
For the full results from Winnipeg's card of harness racing on Saturday, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Gracie Ghost from Aug. 29, 2026)