The 2021 season of harness racing in Manitoba went out with a bang on a card full of stakes races and notable accomplishments.
Millies Million was much the best in the $8,177 Silk Lace Stake for three-year-old pacing fillies on the action-packed Saturday program at Miami Fair. Driver Michel Rey positioned the 1-4 favourite on top early from her rail starting spot, briefly yielded to Send Me A Tweet (Don Howlett) through the :32 opening quarter and then looped back to the front before the far turn. Her rivals were never a threat as Millies Million carved out middle fractions of 1:04.4 and 1:35.1 before an unstressed :32 closer over the off going to win by more than six lengths in 2:07.1. Send Me A Tweet and Baby Badger (Kevin Hildebrandt) completed the top three.
Trained and owned by Richard Rey of St. Claude, Man., Millies Million (Armbro Baylor - Untold Millions) sports a summary of 5-2-1 from eight seasonal starts to lift her lifetime record to 8-3-2 from 13 appearances. Her career bankroll now sits at $24,276.
An early break from favourite Dawns Night Owl changed the complexion of the $8,772 Golden Boy Stake for three-year-old male pacers, and a backstretch bobble sealed his fate as an also-ran. Cereal Killer and driver Don Howlett launched a three-wide bid down the backstretch over pacesetter Jimmydiddonegood (Kirk Rogers) and then sprinted home in :30.1 — the fastest final quarter of the day — to trip the timer in 2:04.2. Jimmydiddonegood was more than three lengths back in second, and Driveitlikeustoleit (Dean Rey) rounded out the triactor.
Cereal Killer (Toucam Sam - Alcars Xit) picked up his third career win — and most certainly his biggest — for breeder/co-owner/trainer Marc Fillion, who co-owns with Wanda Howlett of Winnipeg, Man. The winner's share of the purse comprises more than half of the sophomore's $8,196 bankroll.
Rookie pacer AK Up N Attem picked up his second stakes win of the season with a solid performance in the $5,492 Juvenile Stake for two-year-olds. Tyler Grundy sat the pocket with the favourite behind Sassy Libby (Marc Filion) through opening panels of :33.1 and 1:06 before popping the pocket down the backstretch to pressure the pacesetter. Grundy patiently forged overland as the front pair hit the third quarter in 1:38.2 and then asked for another gear turning for home. AK Up N Attem responded, besting pylon-skimming Fall Out Girl (Howlett) by a half-length in 2:10.1, with Sassy Libby just back of the front pair in third.
Team Grundy — driver Tyler and trainer Jacqueline — owns AK Up N Attem (Andreoli Hanover - Dawns Early Rise) and the seven-time starter now boasts a 3-2-1 summary with $7,261 earned over those starts.
Appoggiatura's wire-to-wire 2:03.1 win in the $3,050 Open Pace was part of a big day at the office for Clayton Braybrook. The Saskatchewan-based horseman sent out four winners on the day and guided each one to the winner's circle. Braybrook also had his picture taken with a maiden-breaking Irish Jean in Race 2, Kernel Kelly in the eighth and Tagoras in the ninth. On the day, Braybrook sent out six horses and finished in the top three (4-1-1) every time.
Hurry Home and driver Darryl Mason were able to wear down softened but stubborn pacesetter A Cowboys Dream (Tyler Grundy) in the $2,700 Fillies & Mares Open Pace to convert as the 1-5 choice for the 2:05.1 decision. Full marks to A Cowboys Dream, who pressured most of the mile to stay for second, with Tami Blue (Braybrook) best of the rest in third.
Darryl and trainer Sherri Mason of Killarney, Man. own four-year-old Hurry Home (Mystician - One Hot Majorette), who picked up her third straight win and sixth in her last seven since arriving in Manitoba after an early July purchase.
The maiden-breaking victories on Saturday were not just celebrated by the horses. Leading trainer Trevor Williams made his driving debut a winning one, launching sophomore Buck Rogers into the lead with a brush to the front through the midway point of the mile before rocketing home in :31 to score the milestone win in 2:06.3.
Many of these horses and participants will shift focus to the meet starting at Marquis Downs in Saskatchewan this coming weekend (September 11-12).
To view the results from the card of harness racing in Miami, click the following link: Saturday Results - Miami.