A wild speed battle took place in Sunday’s $12,100 Preferred Pace at Rideau Carleton Raceway, and that proved to be music to the ears of trainer/driver Ted McDonald and pacer Imjustalittleguy
.
That tandem laid far off the pace while a number of rivals took turns battling for the top spot. Always Western and race favourite Blue Boy battled for the majority of the opening turn before the former took charge at the quarter pole in :26.2. Blue Boy came back around to retake the lead, but Mattjestic Crombie applied pressure and pressed the public’s top choice to the mid-way point in :55.1.
Mattjestic Crombie eventually forged to the front and opened up a two length lead at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.4. He held a clear lead at the head of the lane, but fatigue was about to set in. Imjustalittleguy, in the meantime, was advancing on the rim and he used a 30-second final frame to post the three-quarter length decision in 1:55.1. Mattjestic Crombie was a solid second and Always Western finished a distant third.
Sent off as the 2-1 second choice in the wagering, Imjustalittleguy notched his ninth win of the 2009 campaign for the partnership of Lloyd Stone and Dr. John Tobin. The 32-time winner has salted away more than $252,000 in his career.
To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click here.