Western Fair Raceway played host to The Mildred Williams International Driving Series on Friday night and drivers Ann Karin Larsen and Samara Johnson took their respective divisions.
Ann Karin Larsen guided Cr Bellman to victory in Race 4, the first Mildred Williams event on the card.
Larsen took her charge straight to the front from Post 6, passing the first quarter station in :31. The first-over challenger, Weskey (Andrea Leon), poked a nose in front of the early pacesetter at the half in 1:02.2, but Cr Bellman battled back through the third quarter in 1:31.3 and pulled away by a length in the stretch. Weskey had a final kick left, but Cr Bellman hung on by a neck for the win in 2:02.4 for the mild upset. Mr Bitter (Carole Dumont) finished third.
Cr Bellman, a 10-year-old gelding by Royal Troubador, is trained by Larry Fitzsimmons for Neal Oksenberg of North York, Ont. He has a record of 24 lifetime wins and $477,779 in earnings.
Samara Johnson took the second Mildred Williams event, Race 6, aboard the wire-to-wire winner, Armbro Decent.
The son of Striking Sahbra cleared the front after the :30.2 first quarter station. Armbro Decent posted the following panels of 1:01.4 and 1:33 before pulling away by almost nine lengths for the win in 2:03.3.
The five-year-old gelding notched his eighth lifetime win and increased his bankroll to $54,196 for Dennis Morrissey, who trains and co-owns with Rodger Gilbert of London, Ont.
To view Friday's results, click here.