The quickest way to the winner's circle is to go to the front and try to go the distance, and that tactic was used by driver Trevor Henry with T Js Mr Lavec in Monday's $18,400 Preferred Trot at Western Fair Raceway.
Over a track listed "good" with a two-second allowance,
T Js Mr Lavec parked past the quarter pole in :28.3 before touching down on the lead, but once he cleared it was all over.
The four-year-old son of Mr Lavec threw down remaining splits of :59.4 and 1:29.3 en route to the 2:01 score. Indiana Hall closed from well off the pace to finish second and Brawn Seelster was third.
The Wayne Henry trainee is owned by Trevor Henry of Arthur and Jim Laverty of Sauble Beach, ON. The gelding, who is now a 15-time winner, boasts $275,846 in career earnings.
Stonebridge Celest needed every inch of the racetrack to pull off a mild upset in the $15,200 Mares Preferred Pace for the duo of trainer Larry Fitzsimmons and driver Alfie Carroll.
The six-year-old Camluck miss worked out a pocket trip behind Simply Mavelous, who sliced out splits of :28, :58 and 1:29 before giving way to challengers from the backfield.
Stonebridge Celest prevailed by a nose in a time of 1:59.4 over Just Her Way. Fast Desire closed from out of the clouds to finish third.
Clarence Beitz of Mildmay, ON holds the papers on the career winner of $321,228.
Speakin Greek also popped the pocket to win in the $12,800 Preferred 2 Pace for owner George Bourloukos of Glen Ellyn, IL. The six-year-old son of Astreos, who was sent off as the 4-5 choice, used a :29.3 final frame to register the win.
Pacific Prince laid down very sensible panels of :29, 1:00.1 and 1:29.1, but he couldn't fend off Mike Langdon and Speakin Greek. The gelding stopped the clock in 1:59 to defeat Pacific Prince and Missionacomplished.
The Phil Coleman pupil picked up his sixth win of the campaign and pushed his lifetime earnings close to the $200,000 mark.
To view Monday's results, click here.