Bruce Richardson employed ground-saving tactics to perfection in Tuesday night's $10,000 Preferred 2 Filles & Mares Handicap Pace at Georgian Downs.
Richardson settled Machleen down to the wood and was fourth along the rail during the early fractions of the race, in which Ravishnmasterpiece (Anthony Haughan) was sternly challenged by After Alimony (Paul MacKenzie) from the moment he cleared to the front. Pressured through fractions of :27.1, :55.4 and 1:24.1, Ravishnmasterpiece finally disposed of After Alimony but then had to deal with another wave of mares.
Favoured Marquise De Sarah (Robert Shepherd) advanced around the fading first-over challenger, giving room for Machleen join the outer flow. Around the final turn, Richardson guided Machleen out into the three path and straightened her for the stretch drive. With Ravishnmasterpiece still game and Emerald Rihanna (Ryan Holliday) emerging from the pocket, a three-horse stretch drive ensued with Machleen getting under the wire first by three parts of a length in a time of 1:53.4. Ravishnmasterpiece and Emerald Rihanna completed the triactor.
Owned, trained and co-bred by Mark Austin, Machleen (Mach Three-Aileens Luck) notched her 15th lifetime win and pushed her career bankroll to $216,350.
To view the charted results and payouts from Tuesday night's card of harness racing, click the following link: Tuesday Results - Georgian Downs.