It was the final night of 16 weeks of harness racing at the Yorkton Exhibition Track Friday, and it was a case of saving the best for last
.
In the Alpine Holdings Open Pace, the fifth race on the card, Tyler Redwood piloted Barona Fivehundred to top spot, with the fastest mile of the meet at 1:58.4. The five-year-old gelding was trained by Blake Piwniuk, who is also co-owner with Jennifer Sutter. Brian Gray had Outlaw Watch Me in for the place finish, with Donald Tracey and Camaction in for the show spot.
Redwood said they had a good draw in the race starting from the two-hole, and 'Fivehundred' responded well throughout the race, going to the front early, although he did face challenges.
“Kalahari Riff charged at us early,” he said, adding “for a second I thought he was going to get by.”
However, as Riff faded, the race really fell into place for Redwood and his drive, although the race went quicker than might have been anticipated. Redwood said when he looked at the half and the time was 57, he knew the time was going to be a crisp one.
That said Redwood said Barona Fivehundred was pretty much at his limit by the finish line.
“He was getting pretty tired,” he said, adding he still had a final quarter of 31 seconds. “He put up some solid fractions (quarter times). He's a nice horse.”
Redwood would also take KG DNA to a sub-two-minute mile in the Alpine Holding Top Claimers Pace, going to the winner's circle in 1:59.1. Brian Gray with Pumpjack was second and Kevin Sampson and Power Maid third.
Redwood said he expected KG DNA to challenge in the race.
“He's probably the best claiming horse on the grounds,” he said, adding “going in 59 showed that.”
It is a case where the six-year-old gelding has been in a groove finishing in the top-three in his last seven races, including three wins.
“He's sharp. He's happy. He's sound, and he's driving well,” said Redwood.
The two wins for Redwood helped secure the Top Driver Award for Redwood for the Yorkton meet, He had 22 wins, 20 seconds and 17 thirds over the 16-weeks. Redwood also claimed the jacket for Top Trainer of the meet, with 17 wins, 14 seconds and 11 thirds.
The top driver and trainer awards and the two sub two-minute miles was the end to what Redwood said was a better summer than he had anticipated in the spring. He said his stable had basically the same line-up of horses as he had in 2008, and that was not a great year.
"It was pretty well the same horses so I thought it would likely be a mediocre year, but it turned out to be our best year."
So why the turn around? Redwood said he took on fewer horses from other owners this year.
“We had a limited number of horses so we could focus on a certain amount of things going on in the barn with each animal,” he said.
Redwood said the awards are great, but they really are simply highlights in doing what he loves, and would do with, or without the jackets and feature blankets. Looking at the two meet awards, Redwood said when it comes to training it is not just his effort.
“I can't take all the responsibility for training. My father (Kelvin Godlien) does a pile of the work back here too. We share the job back here.”
Redwood said he had already decided if he earned the trainer's award jacket he was giving it to his father.
“He's worked too hard without being known,” he said.
That makes the drivers award a little more special for Redwood.
“Driving; that's my job,” he said. “.... So, the driving part means more.”
The final card also highlighted two other feature races, as Laurie Bell with Elvishasleftthebdg took the Crystal Clear Imprints Feature in a time of 2:03, ahead of Hugh Woods and Duff Love, and Redwood with Vanilla Fudge. Donald Tracey topped the Sherring Gold Feature with Maximus Pass in a time of 2:01.4, over Woods and Kinset Hanover and Bell with Pedicure.
For Friday's results, click here.