When Monday's 10th race Preferred-2 Pace at Western Fair turns to the starting gate the backers of Western Wiggles will hope their 'horse for a course' theory will allow them to say to they've seen this movie before.
"We've had a lot of luck with 'Wiggles' in the past two years in the times we've ventured west to London and Woodstock," says co-owner and trainer Ian Reid of the six year old Western Hanover-Wigglemyclass gelding. "Getting him classified right, just below the top Preferred level seems to be where he's best suited."
The record shows Western Wiggles has already had a pair of 2008 romping wins at Western Fair in the Preferred-2 class which carries a $12,800 purse again on Monday. In addition to a 1:59.1 score on Feburary 11 he took his life's mark of 1:54.3 at the London oval on April 7.
"Going into Monday his recent lines don't look very good," Reid explains. "We had him in the Champions Series up at Sudbury Downs with France and Paul MacLean. They did their best but he raced poorly in that Series final due to his white blood count being really off on October 4th. He was roughed up in the middle stages of that race and should've beaten them. I trained him up on Saturday and I'm hoping he's back to himself now and can produce a much better outing at Western Fair on Monday afternoon."
Headlining the Preferred-2 Pace is Carl Jamieson's $641,000 winner Banner Yankee who has been on the sidelines since a September 6th outing in Woodstock. Other accomplished veterans in the field include are Actionuke sent out by trainer Gregg McNair and the 8-5 morning line favourite is the exciting hard closer Twilight Baron for trainer-driver Brent Belore.
To view Monday's entries at Western Fair, click here.
Big USA Influence
Monday's top classes in London are dotted with strong entries from Michigan and Illinois.
In the $18,400 Preferred Pace in the 12th race, Robin Schadt sends out Odds On BP from post 5 while Michigan's Paul Kennedy Jr. sends out 56-time career winner Bobnoxious from post 6. Kennedy also sends out Renaissance Woman in the $15,200 Mares Preferred Pace in the 9th race, and another Michigan trainer, Ron Kugler, sends Russell L into action from the inside post in the Preferred-2 Pace. The Michigan driving colony is represented in London on Monday by Mike Micallef and Randy Edmonds.
Stakes Action Galore
The October 17th program will start an intense schedule of Fall stakes action at Western Fair, starting with the first round of the Middlesex County Series for Ontario Sired trotters and pacers. The Ontario Sires Stakes will be at Western Fair showcasing the two year colt and filly pacers for their Gold Series eliminations on October 31.
A big night of finals is set for November 8th for the four divisions of the Middlesex County Series and the pair of OSS Gold Finals.
(Western Fair)