Rebecca Williamson's St Lads Beat It ($7.70) drafted comfortably from the pocket for the first 6-1/2 furlongs before duelling down favourite The Loan Ranger in mid-stretch to win Saturday's (Sept. 4) $5,500 Preferred 3 Pace at Hiawatha Horse Park.
Anthony Haughan landed St Lads Beat It in the pocket behind The Loan Ranger (Drew Neill), and the pair drafted unabated through splits of :27.4, :57 and 1:25.1. Midway on the home turn, the four-year-old Mach Three gelding vacated the pegs and duelled to a narrow lead in upper stretch — but faced resistance from his inside rival. St Lads Beat It out-fought The Loan Ranger to the line, though, edging clear in the final 70 yards to win by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:54.1. Kingofbrokenhearts (Tyler Borth) rallied mildly off the home turn to finish third, another two lengths behind.
St Lads Beat It has amassed eight wins and over $60,000 in earnings in his career, all under the care of trainer Jeffrey Williamson.
The Ontario Standardbred Adoption Society 25th Anniversary purse saw Zarconia Seelster ($4.60) circle stalled cover en route to a 1:57.4 win over the late-rallying veteran E R Rhonda, who came up a half length short after being shuffled to last on the backstretch. Drew Neill drove the six-year-old daughter of Shadow Play to victory in the $7,000 distaff claiming event for owner-trainer Stacey Currie.
Every Standardbred racetrack in the province is hosting an OSAS day in honour of its significant milestone reached this year. Next up will be Hanover Raceway on Saturday, Sept. 18.
To view Saturday's complete results, click the following link: Saturday Results – Hiawatha Horse Park.