Tempete stamped herself as Manitoba's premier sophomore pacing filly with a 1:58.4 victory in the $22,080 Lady Crocus at The Loop on Saturday, Aug. 8, scoring her third win from four starts in the province and capping a training hat trick for Trevor Williams.
Blake Piwniuk swung the daughter of Domethatagain-Seawind Gabriella three-wide around a breaking Farroh Fawcett (Michel Rey) on the first turn before working clear of early pacesetter Jessica Girl (Cory Manning) past the :28.4 first quarter. Once in control, Tempete travelled unopposed through middle fractions of :59.3 and 1:29.2 before accelerating off the final turn with a :29.2 closing quarter. Gracie Ghost (Clayton Braybrook) took second from a tiring Jessica Girl up the backstretch and finished 2-1/2 lengths in arrears; Jessica Girl was another 13-1/2 lengths back in third.
Williams leases and trains Tempete, whose four career wins have all come this season, raising her bankroll to $24,945.
Sent off as the 3-2 favourite, she paid $5 to win.
Piwniuk and Williams also teamed up to take the $3,900 Open Handicap for male pacers with Take Out Hanover ($4.50), who rolled to a 7-1/4-length, 1:58.2 win — the 13th of his career — over 2-5 favourite Ginger Tree Finny (Michel Rey); as well as a claiming pace with Credit Is Magic ($2.40), a 4-1/2-length, 2:00.3 winner.
Clayton Braybrook also posted a training triple, winning with Acquired Taste ($12.80, Darryl Mason, 2:01.2), Chics Dragon Flies ($5.90, Braybrook, 2:00.4) and Cheyenne Creek ($56.80, Tyler Grundy, 2:03.2).
In the $3,900 Open Pace for distaffers, Kootenay Cocoa ($42.30) and driver Michel Rey rode the pocket to a 20-1 upset, defeating Tami Blue (Braybrook) by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:59.4 after 1-20 choice Always Gonna B You (Piwniuk) broke stride before the start and missed the gate. Richard Rey trains the 14-time winner for Laverne Turnbull of Kitchener, Ont.
To view Saturday's complete harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results – The Loop.
(Standardbred Canada)