Four divisions of the Red Serge Classic and a pair of Forrest Wilson Memorial splits gave fans at Evergreen Park plenty of reasons to turn out for the matinee program
on Sunday.
War Cry Ranger took advantage of a pocket trip for trainer/driver Don Monkman, Jr., who guided the son of Camystic-Western Gift to a 2:00.1 maiden-breaking score in the first $30,000 division of the Forrest Wilson Memorial for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. The colt tracked Flak Jacket through panels of :29.4, 1:01 and 1:31.3 before using a :28.2 final frame to pull off the 8-1 upset over Flak Jacket and Premium Cigar. Don M Jr Stables and Don Byrne Stables 2008 Inc. of Edmonton AB share ownership on the career winner of $22,207.
Leadfoot Lefty also made his first trip to the winner’s circle thanks to his 2:00.1 score in the second division for trainer/driver Brent Grundy. The son of As Promised-Cinderella Cam survived a first-over trip to post the neck decision over race favourite Clintons Escape, with Acemor rounding out the top three in the $30,000 tilt. Albertans Chris and Terri Menard, Diane Bertrand and Paul Wood share ownership on the youngster, who upped his bankroll to $21,613 with the win.
The first of four $12,500 Red Serge Classic divisions, which was contested as a non-wagering event, went to Oblivious Boy and driver Gerry Hudon in a time of 1:58.1. The event for three-year-old pacing colts and geldings saw the son of As Promised-Armbro Villa open up a big lead at the head of lane en route to posting a comfortable victory over Waytogodoc and Rotten Randy. Trainer Keith Clark, who co-owns the gelding with Doris McDougall of Cochrane, AB, watched his student bump his lifetime earnings to $82,871 with the win.
Wrangler Hitech extended his win streak to four-in-a-row thanks to a 1:58 triumph in the next division. In rein to trainer/driver Keith Clark, the son of As Promised-Raines Lucey led through fractions of :29.4, :59.2 and 1:30 before sprinting home in 28 seconds en route to winning by more than 12 lengths over Bandit On The Run. The show dough went to Commence Countdown. Clark, along with partners Robert Jones and Peter Giannakopoulos, watched the gelding visit the winner’s circle for the 13th time in just 23 tries while pushing his earnings over $114,000.
Carro Snoop used off-the-pace tactics for trainer/driver Ronald Graham to take his division in a time of 2:00.1. The son of As Promised-Lite Laugh won by a length over My Candidate, with Cams Trouble Maker another half-length back in third. Dion Burlock of Donalda, AB and Keith Boras of Red Deer, AB share ownership on the two-time winner, who is closing in on $20,000 in career earnings.
Sit Back N Watch sat a pocket trip for most of the mile before uncorking a :29.2 final frame to take the final division in a time of 1:57.3 for trainer Robert Morris and driver Jeff Stone. Morris, who co-owns the son of As Promised-Keeping Watch with Debbie Morris of Beaumont, AB and Albert Branham of Sherwood Park, AB, watched the colt drive away to win by a little more than two lengths over Cry Freedom. Double L Jammer rounded out the top three. Sit Back N Watch, who was unraced as a rookie, has put together a 2-1-3 record in eight starts while stashing away more than $13,000 to date.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.