The Raceway at Western Fair suspended harness racing action due to poor track conditions on Wednesday, Feb. 24.
The Raceway canceled after three races, all of which were abnormally slow. The circuit was very muddy, and announcer Sugar Doyle reported a strong headwind on the backstretch.
Every race was won in wire-to-wire fashion. D J Roy Hall won the first, a N/W $25,000 lifetime event after odds-on favourite Credits Celebrity broke stride going into the first turn. Driver Austin Sorrie piloted the son of Amigo Hall to fractional times of 31.1, 1:06, 1:37, and 2:09, winning by four lengths. Ann Jackson and Twin B Hugs made late moves to grab place and show, respectively.
D J Roy Hall has now won five races from 19 starts and earned $26,179 lifetime. The four-year-old gelding is owned by Simon Sardellis of Toronto and trained by Bernard Willis.
Petro Dealin upset in the second, leading from start to finish at 40-1. The three-year-old Wheeling N Dealin gelding left first from the rail as 1/9 shot Tanzanite Trixx, along with three others, broke just after the start. Petro Dealin went 33 to the first quarter, 1:06.3 to the half, and 1:37.4 to three-quarters. Tanzanite Trixx dropped to fifth after the early break but quickly caught the field and mounted a final-quarter charge, going three-wide.. She appeared to have a shot down the lane, but she drifted in as Chili N Toast, who was second, drifted out and the light contact stifled the heavy favourite's challenge. Petro Dealin won in 2:10.2 by a half-length, and Chili N Toast survived an inquiry to hold on to second. Tanzanite Trixx finished third.
The winner broke his maiden in his 10th start, and his earnings now total $9,831 for owner, trainer, driver, and breeder, Darryl Laver of Petrolia. He paid $82.40 to win.
The third race closed out the truncated card with a tight three-way photo, from which 4/5 favourite Dabunka emerged victorious. The ten-year-old gelding by Mattnamaras Band opened up a big lead turning for home after leading through fractions of 30.2, 1:02.4, 1:35.1 for driver James MacDonald, but Keaton and Einhorn made him sweat over it. They gained on the leader massively through the final eighth of a mile, culminating in a deep-stretch showdown. Keaton went to the outside and Einhorn ducked to the rail in the final 1/16th, leading to a photo for win.
"A three-across thriller," Doyle exclaimed as the trio hit the wire.
Dabunka came out best in the photo; he officially won by a nose in 2:09.1. Keaton finished second, and Einhorn finished third by another nose. Dabunka paid $3.80 to win.
The iron horse has visited the winner's circle 48 times in 237 starts and earned $237,733 lifetime. Cameron McQueen of London owns and trains.
The Raceway was forced to cancel on Tuesday, Feb. 23, also due to inclement conditions. The London, Ontario track also scrapped qualifiers on Thursday, Feb. 25. Racing is set to resume on Friday, Feb. 26.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink.