Last year’s driving champ made his return to Leamington Raceway a memorable one as he picked up three wins on the 10-race card.
With Clinton Raceway’s Sundays now in the books, driver Nick Steward started his assault in the third race with an easy wire to wire win with Britt Kennedy's 11-year-old mare, Callmeinthemorning ($4.40) in 1:59.
It was quite a different story in the fifth race aboard the Gord McDonnell-trained Terra Cotta Lad ($3.70). Steward tried to make the front right out of gate, but Donnie Rankin had a different idea with Intrigued Intended parking the favourite in a speed duel through a :27.2 first quarter, leaving the rest of the field five lengths back. Steward backed off to the two-hole and waited until the stretch to tip out and win by a half-length in 1:58.1. Terra Cotta Lad is owned by Vince Orlando and Sherry Murray of Leamington.
Steward's third win came aboard longshot Art Again ($19.50) coming first up at the half to stay out the rest of the way to win in 1:57.2 over Oldfriendskentucky and Cayo Loco.
The five-year-old son of Dragon Again is trained by McDonnell, who co-owns with Vince Orlando, Nicole Tuffin and Steve John of Leamington.
Homey Joe established a new track record for two-year-old pacing colts when he toured the oval in 1:58.3 for trainer/driver Mark MacQuarrie. The son of Hes Gorgeous-Give The Gift was a front-stepping winner by 12-1/2 lengths over Nellys Rockette. It was another pair of lengths in arrears to third-place finisher, Onimpulse. The former mark of 2:00.1 was set by Evil Cam Evil one week ago.
Angus MacQuarrie of Inverness, N.S. owns the two-time winner who was a $3,500 purchase from last year’s Blooded Horse Sale in Ohio.
It was Media Day at Leamington, and even though the OLG's Vice-President of horse racing, Cal Bricker, had to be given the edge - OLG always has a 2% edge - he finished second behind CBC news anchor Lisa Xing and ahead of reporter Sacha Long of CTV News and CKLW Radio sportscaster, Dom Papa.
(L-R:) Cal Bricker, Sacha Long, Lisa Xing and Dom Papa.
OHHA's 'Hands On Horses' program was back for the second time this season, and fans were lined up to take advantage of a chance to tour the oval behind 'Woody' and 'Harry' in a double-seated jogger.
"We had over 30 riders over the course of the afternoon, and the majority of them were first-time visitors to the track," said Program Co-ordinator, Stacey Reinsma. "Riders ranged anywhere from ages four to 64. That's the great thing about it, it's something that's fun for people of all ages."
The Hands On Horses program will make its final appearance of the season on October 1 at Kawartha Downs.
Leamington races seven more Sundays. Post time 1:30 p.m.
(Leamington Raceway)
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – Leamington Raceway.