Louis-Philippe Roy sent 1-5 favourite Boomboom Ballykeel to the top passing the quarter and remained in control under the wire to win the $11,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace on Tuesday, April 17 at The Raceway at Western Fair District in 1:56 over a "good" track.
The seven-year-old Mach Three stallion took command from rail-starting Reel following a :27.4 opening quarter. Unchallenged through a :58 half, Boomboom Ballykeel received minor pressure from National Debt, who moved first over at the half, in the backstretch. After a 1:27.1 third-quarter, Boomboom Ballykeel held a length advantage over National Debt into the stretch, holding the front to the line as he finished three-quarters lengths in front of National Debt.
Rebel Voyager, rallying from last around the final turn, was nine lengths off the winner in third.
Owned by Ballykeel Racing, Boomboom Ballykeel, conditioned by Richard Moreau, won his third race in 12 starts this season and his 32nd in 158 overall, earning $865,081. He paid $2.30 to win.
Driver Ryan Holliday and trainer Robert Manders swept the pair of Filly and Mare features on the Tuesday program, taking first the $10,500 Preferred 2 Handicap Pace with Bourbon Seelster in 1:58.
The odds-on favourite sat third through a :27.2 opening quarter and remained in that position through a :57 half. Driver Ryan Holliday angled the Robert Manders trainee first over into the backstretch, drawing alongside Teachers Vet in 1:27.1 and soon taking a narrow lead into the stretch. Thewayulooktonight, riding Bourbon Seelster's cover, tipped wide approaching the finish, coming a neck short of winning. Big Lis, sitting a pocket trip, was close to the photo, finishing third.
A five-year-old mare by Camluck out of the Bettors Delight mare Tarport Baccarat, Bourbon Seelster, owned by W. Scott Manders and Keith Manders, won her fourth race in 10 starts this season and her 16th in 45 overall, earning $186,910. She paid $3.90 to win.
Holliday and Manders then took the $9,000 Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 pace with Casino Classic, going wire-to-wire in the mile-and-a-sixteenth affair with a 2:06.1 victory.
Leading through a :29.2 opening quarter, Casino Classic soon underwent pressure from second-tier starter Top Royal from first over. The two engaged after a 1:00 half, with a head separating them by three-quarters in 1:28.4. However, Casino Classic widened her lead into the final turn and opened two lengths on Top Royal into the stretch, eventually expanding that margin to two-and-one-half lengths at the line. Top Royal held second from Youvegotawaywithme, rallying into contention off a pocket trip for third.
Ryan Holliday piloted Casino Classic, a four-year-old mare by Classic Card Shark out of the Artiscape mare Art Alliance. Trained by Robert Manders for owners Richard Manders and Keith Manders, the $12.00 winner collected her third victory in 13 starts this season and her 12th in 42 starts overall, earning $82,144.
To view Tuesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Tuesday Results - Western Fair Raceway.