Pondside Thunder showed no mercy to a trio of younger rivals at St Johns Raceway during Sunday’s $3,500 NLSBA Stake – an event open to both rookie and sophomore pacing colts and geldings.
Scott MacRoberts wasted no time hustling the three-year-old son of Force Of Life-Raisin Ruckus to the lead from his Post 4 perch behind the starting gate, and once he cleared it was game over. Pondside Thunder led the group through fractions of :29.2, :58 and 1:28 before using a :30.4 final quarter to seal the deal in 1:58.4. The winning margin was 39 lengths over runner-up Dustylane Wildbill, with Backriver Buck E another 5-3/4 lengths back in third.
The clocking of 1:58.4 allowed Pondside Thunder to lower his own one-week-old track record of 2:01 for three-year-old pacing geldings.
Sent off as the 1-2 favourite, Pondside Thunder won of the third time this season and for the sixth time in his career for trainer William Taylor and owner Clifford Garland of Carbonear, NL. It was a career-best clocking for the career winner of $29,989.
Trainer Scott Forward and driver Shane Forward also had a productive day at the office thanks to a trio of victories which included a tally in the featured Preferred pace.
Scott Forward, who matched last year’s win total following the three-win performance, watched Victors Passion get things rolling for his barn with a dominant score in Race 2. Shane Forward guided the son of N Xample to the 7-1/2 lengths blowout in 2:06.4.
Gabbys Littleangel gave that same trainer/driver duo its second trip to victory lane thanks to her two-length triumph in Race 5. The daughter of Fit For Life took over the lead past the half and drew clear to win in 2:06.2.
Four Brass Starz capped off the hat trick performances for the Forwards thanks to his win by 3-3/4 lengths in the Preferred Handicap for pacers. The son of Four Starzzz Shark won easily in 2:02 for owner Carl Stafford of Conception Bay South, NL.
To view results for Sunday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Sunday Results – St Johns Raceway.