Sunday's (July 4) $15,900 final of the Mark Austin Pacing Series at Dresden Raceway has the potential to be an epic battle.
The 8-5 morning line favourite is Bigmacwithcheese. The five-year-old Betterthancheddar gelding won last week's preliminary in 1:57.2, pacing his back half in :58.3 and coming home in 27.4. Bigmacwithcheese is owned and trained by MacKenzie MacInnis, and will have Dale Spence at the controls.
Shes A Comedian is the co-second favourite at 3-1 for driver Alfie Carroll. The three-year-old Hes Watching filly won her first preliminary in 1:58.1 with a wire-to-wire effort, but broke leaving in the second leg. Shes A Comedian is owned by Alison Hepburn and Susan Homes with Randy Marriage doing the training.
Three-year-old American Ideal filly Stiletto Blue Chip is also 3-1 for driver J.R. Plante. Stiletto Blue Chip won handily last week by open lengths in 1:58 after burning to the half in :55.4. The speedy filly is owned by Wendy Warren Timpano, Frank Tucci and Seaway Stables, and is conditioned by Mike Timpano.
The annual race is in memory of trainer Mark Austin, who died suddenly in 2014. Austin got his start at Dresden Raceway and was one of the top trainers in Ontario with horses racing in the top class at Woodbine and Mohawk. Austin gained fame as he broke one of North America's greatest trotters, A Worthy Lad, for Dr. Joe Johnston. The Austin Series final is programmed as the 10th and final race on Sunday's card, which carries a 1 p.m. first post time.
Fans who are interested in pre-registering for the day are asked to send the number of people in their party, names and phone numbers for contact tracing purposes to [email protected] or message on the track's Facebook page.
To view Sunday's complete entries, click the following link: Sunday Entries – Dresden Raceway.
(Dresden Raceway)