Choozetocruise pushed the pedal to the metal on Saturday, Aug. 31 at The Loop, making every all a winning one in the 77th edition of the Manitoba Great Western Stake.
A field of seven lined up in the $14,139 dash, with track record holder Grit N Grace sent off as the post-time favourite from post four. Starting two spots to that one's inside, Choozetocruise cut the corner quickest and made the top to take control of the tempo. Grit N Grace tried to challenge, but driver Dean Rey grabbed grips and tucked into the three hole.
Choozetocruise chose to chop out very moderate fractions for the first half with back-to-back 31-second quarters. Grit N Grace tried a second move approaching the half, but couldn't collar Choozetocruise through a 1:31.4 third quarter. Cartoon Kid (Marc Fillion) started to gap in the pocket, and Grit N Grace waved the white flag around that far turn as Choozetocruise cruised home in :30.2 for the 2:02 victory. Grit N Grace finished more than five lengths back in second with Cartoon Kid best of the rest in third.
Trevor Williams of Landmark, Man. owns and trains Choozetocruise, who has blossomed as a three-year-old. After a winless six-start rookie season, the Lambretta - Kilo Dream filly has excelled as a sophomore with a 6-0-1 record from seven starts. The winner's share of Saturday's purse lifts her lifetime purse earnings to $28,508. As the 2-1 second choice, she returned $6.60 to win.
For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Manitoba, click the following link: Saturday Results - The Loop.
(Standardbred Canada)