With a race having 77 prior editions, the Manitoba Great Western Stakes clearly has some history behind it. The 78th renewal of the event made history of its own.
A robust field of nine faced the starting gate at The Loop on Saturday, Aug. 30 with the public supporting post six starter Pipers Luna. The filly by Im The Pied Piper - Hammers Rainbow came into Saturday's main event with a 3-1-0 record from four starts and looked to be the class of the field.
The public got it right, as Pipers Luna lambasted her eight rivals in the $15,523 stakes event en route to a track record effort.
Sent off as the 2-1 favourite, Pipers Luna plowed forward off the gate for driver Dean Rey and never faced a serious threat after that. She did, however, face a Major Threat — that being the name of the slight second choice — with a first-over move for Richard Remillard after the :29.2 opening quarter and just before the :59.2 half.
Rey maintained his momentum on top with Pipers Luna, hitting the third quarter in 1:29.3 and then asking the favourite to be her anti-social best. The filly responded with the coldest of shoulders, turning a four-plus length advantage turning for home to more than eight lengths at the wire. The mile was timed in 1:58.3, knocking more than a full second off the previous standard for sophomore filly pacers of 1:59.4 set by Grit N Grace in 2024.
In a tight battle for second, Major Threat held off Wednttalkboutbruno (Paula Mason).
Trained by breeder and co-owner Lorraine Rey, Pipers Luna now sports four wins in five appearances for Rey and co-owner Vince Sotheran of Carman, Man. The filly bumped her career bankroll to $25,341 with the record mile.
On the engine with the lights on and the horn blowing was the winning formula for both of the best Open pacers on Saturday afternoon.
First, Ginger Tree Finny ($4.50) took no prisoners with a 1:58.2 wire-to-wire win in the $6,100 Open Pace. Lookinlikeamillion technically had the lead at the :28.4 quarter for driver Richard Remillard, but Michel Rey had him parked with Ginger Tree Finny and wouldn't let him clear. After forcing Lookinlikeamillion back into the pocket, Ginger Tree Finny paced through middle fractions of :57.4 and 1:28.2 and then closed in :30 to trip the timer in 1:58.2. Flying Officer was next best, 1-1/4 lengths in arrears with Lookinlikeamillion in the show spot.
Melanie Rey Clark trains Ginger Tree Finny, a seven-year-old Captaintreacherous - Ideal Weather gelding, for Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener, Ont. He's now a six-time winner this year and 19-time winner in his 105-start career with earnings of $146,180.
Hurry Home ($3.70) lived up to her name, doing that faster than any of the other distaffers entered in the $6,100 Fillies & Mares Open Pace this week. Driver Darryl Mason pointed the 4/5 favourite toward the front, repelled a challenge from Outlaw Spiced Rum (Tyler Grundy) through fractions of :29, :58.2 and 1:27.4, then held off the challenges of longshot Tami Blue (Clayton Braybrook) and pocket-sitter Fall Out Girl (Marc Fillion) to win by three parts of a length in 1:58.4.
Mason also owns Hurry Home, an eight-year-old daughter of Mystician - One Hot Majorette with four wins this season and 19 in her 158-start career. Sherri Mason handles the training.
To view the complete results from the Saturday card of harness racing in Manitoba, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.
(Standardbred Canada)