Nine trotters faced the starting gate in Monday’s featured Preferred 2 at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and Amigo Loco was a wire-to-wire winner in the $10,500 tilt.
Rob Sparling, Jr. hustled Amigo Loco to the lead from Post 1 and the six-year-old son of Amigo Hall-Fathers Daughters chopped out panels of :30.3, 1:00.3 and 1:30.1 en route to a three-length score in 2:00.4. Thundering Ovation tagged along in the two-hole and finished second, while Long Ago rallied from just off the lead to be third.
Andy Hardy trains the gelding for owner Tim Varney of London, Ontario, and together they’ve watched the OSS graduate stash away more than $143,000 in career earnings. The victory was his ninth of the season and the 15th of his career.
Sparling also guided Rubber Belly to a winning effort in the $6,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3. The four-year-old daughter of L H Stryker-Rubber Head powered off cover in the backstretch and motored to an impressive win in 1:58.2. It was 1-1/4 lengths back to runner-up Cards That Count, with Royal Cover Up nabbing the show dough.
Trainer Randy Parish co-owns the mare, who was sent off at odds of 11-1, with James Parish of Elmwood and Brent Parish of Chesley, Ontario. The 12-time winner now boasts an 8-9-1 record from 38 trips to the track this season. She’s stashed away more than $57,000 to date.
A set of $6,500 Preferred 3 events were also contested on Monday’s card, with Monster In Law and Zorgwijk Nova taking home top honours in their respective assignments.
Monster In Law extended his winning streak to two-in-a-row for trainer Don Beatson thanks to his 1:56.3 tally. Trevor Henry took over the lead with the gelding shortly past the quarter pole and he never looked back en route to the comfortable triumph over Western Captive and Lawmen Reign.
Don Beatson, Ken Beatson along with Sandra & Ralph Pitt share ownership on the 33-time winner, who upped his lifetime earnings to $412,976 with the win.
Zorgwijk Nova capitalized on some class relief in her trotting affair for the tandem of driver James MacDonald and trainer Ronnie MacLean. MacDonald hustled the three-year-old daughter of Armbro Ricochet-Zorgwijk Amarillis to the lead from Post 7 and she successfully chopped out splits of :29.1, :59.3 and 1:29.2 en route to the three-length decision in 1:59.4. Thunderaway was next best, with Jetcrest taking home the show dough.
Sent off as the 3-2 favourite, Zorgwijk Nova improved this year’s record to 5-for-19 for MacLean and partners Zorgwijk Stables Ltd, Happy Trails Stables and Murray Neilson. Her share of the loot lifted her lifetime cash stash to $176,949.
To view results for Monday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.