Despite starting behind the field of Preferred trotters at Leamington Raceway, Workinitonbroadway got his nose to the wire first for a milestone victory on Sunday, Sept. 22.
An eight-year-old gelded son of Broadway Hall out of the Ken Warkentin mare Working Girl, Workinitonbroadway earned his 50th career victory with a two-minute mile in the $5,000 Preferred 4 Handicap Trot.
Workinitonbroadway got away midfield after a trailing tier start through a :28 opening panel. As the parked out Duke Deo (Nick Steward) worked his way to the top and cleared stablemate Shouldaknownbetter (Anthony Hamlin) at the half-mile mark in :58, Donnie Rankin Jr. made his move with Workinonbroadway and advanced first-over to three-quarters in 1:28.2 with Hally Road (Lorne House) hot on his heels. Workinonbroadway battled past Duke Deo as they raced down the stretch in front of the grandstand and held off the late-charging Hally Road in the three-across finish. Last through the first half, Toscano Girl (Garrett Rooney), the 7-5 race favourite after winning last week's Preferred, finished more than five lengths behind the top trio.
Sent postward as the 5-1 fourth choice in the field of seven, Workinitonbroadway returned $12.30 to his pari-mutuel backers.
Rankin trains, drives and co-owns the trotter with Chris Hadrian. Workinitonbroadway, who also won the first Preferred of the Leamington meet on Aug. 18, now has seven wins from 34 starts overall this year. He currently sits just on the verge of the $400,000 earnings mark with a career summary reading 50-37-28 in 186 starts.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Leamington Raceway.
(Standardbred Canada; Photo of Workinitonbroadway from a previous win)