'Shark' Attack In Western Fair Preferreds

Published: December 26, 2011 05:52 pm EST

Part Shark and First Rate Shark romped to a pair of victories in their respective Preferred assignments during the Boxing Day card at Western Fair Raceway on Monday afternoon

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In the $15,000 Preferred Pace, Just Crowned (Robert Sparling Jr.) put up opening panels of :27.3 and :58 before 2010 Gold Cup & Saucer and City Of Greater Sudbury champion Part Shark and Greg Dustin swept to command from third. The five-year-old gelding opened up four and a half lengths on his foes by the 1:26.3 third quarter mark and nearly doubled that margin as he powered home to victory in 1:57.2 over the 'good' track rated three seconds slow.

Part Shark paid $15.30 for the mild upset. The son of Four Starzzz Shark out of Pop Art bested favourite Monster In Law (Alfred Carroll) and Just Crowned.

Wayne Preszcator trains Part Shark, who has won eight races in 29 starts this year while banking $81,975, for the Secret Weapon Stables of Waterloo, Ont. The win was No. 23 in the gelding's career and boosted his overall bankroll to more than $333,000.

In the $11,000 Preferred 2 Pace, First Rate Shark and Robert Sparling Jr. cleared to command ahead of Button Up (Mike Horner) at the :27.4 first quarter pole and then faced first over pressure from Our Lucky Killean (Jonathan Drury) at the :58 half-mile marker. The bay ridgling turned back that challenger en route to three-quarters in 1:27.1 and cruised home for the two length tally in 1:58.1 over the off track.

First Rate Shark paid $9.40 to win as the 7-2 third choice. Longshot Western Churchill (Alex Lilley) weaved between horses down the stretch to grab second and Willies Place (Aaron Byron) went wide down the backstretch to come on for third.

The Cams Card Shark-Ashlee Lyn six-year-old is owned by trainer David O'Brien of Dorchester, Ont. and Anne O'Keefe of Ferryland, Nfld. The win was his fourth of the year in 24 starts and pushed his seasonal earnings to $38,230. Lifetime, First Rate Shark has visited the winner's circle 12 times while banking over $220,000.

The victory was the third in a row for Sparling. Bruce Richardson also enjoyed a driving triple while Western Fair Raceway's leading reinsman Trevor Henry scored five wins, including four in a row during the early portion of the 14-race program.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Monday Results - Western Fair Raceway.

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