It was a record-setting Canada Day for Judges Discretion at Cornerstone Raceway in Yorkton Sunday.
The seven-year-old mare was piloted to the winner's circle by Tyler Redwood in the sixth race of the card setting a new track record for consecutive wins with six. The mare had won its fifth straight Friday night at the track.
Sunday Judges Discretion came from behind to clip Bob Baxter with Bubblemint at the finish in 2:02.2, while Als Dream Gal with Clayton Braybrook was third.
After the completion of the card, Redwood said they had "talked about" whether a sixth win would be a record. Finding out it was put a huge smile on Redwood's face.
"It's very nice feeling, especially being father's horse [owner Kelvin Godlien]," he said. "It was a wonderful feeling seeing Dad in the winner's circle with a grin ear-to-ear. He deserves it, he works so hard."
So what is the secret of keeping 'Judges' at the top of her game?
"The secret for her is just her being her and letting her be herself," said Redwood, who added the way the mare is racing "a monkey" could drive her. He said in the race at the three-quarter pole he actually lost control of the reins because the mare had her tail in them.
"That was just her telling me she's got it under control," he said.
Redwood said the mare is obviously very confident at the present time too.
"She's even confident in the stalls. Her ears are pricked back at everybody. She's the queen," he said.
Redwood also topped the Open race Sunday with an easy win for Light The Board in 2:01.3 over Tajerine Dream and Kevin Siever and Kevin Sampson with Barona Fivehundred.
Sampson did have a two-win night himself with Red Star Best and KG Mattermerlin.
Baxter took the first two races of the night reconnecting with owner Thelmur Michel of Walkerton, Ont. to win with Prince Of Chantze and Simply Dynamite.
"There's a lot of history. I used to drive for their father. It's a first class family...I hadn't seen then in 15 years since they went to Ontario," he said of the owner and the horses' trainer Monty Michel. "It's great to win for these guys."
Baxter said in both cases the horses were prepared.
"Thelmur and Monty had them ready."
Baxter said in the case of Simply Dynamite the Michels have a good one.
"Once he fills out a little bit he'll be a great four-year-old," he predicted. "There didn't seem to be any end to him."
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Yorkton Exhibition.
(Trot Insider exclusive by Calvin Daniels)