Seriously, the money presses in the Province of Ontario must be working overtime.

Not only is there two Free For All races at WEG Monday night, not 120 kilometres down the 401 highway (Ontario's major traffic artery) to the west of Toronto, London's, Western Fair Raceway is hosting another three Preferred pacing races on their mid afternoon card. Post Time 3:05pm.

The first big money event at Western Fair, worth a purse of $18,400 is an open Preferred Pace.

A full field of eight went post ward with Junior K (PP4) Button Up (PP2) and XLB Patrick (PP8) blasting to the quarter in a brisk :28/1 while Secret Weapon, the rail horse, driven by Brad Forward, kept the hole plugged tight getting away in third.

A bit of speed battle ensued on the front end between Button Up's driver Mike Horner and XLB Patrick's "auto pilot," Donnie, "I can't keep em in the hole," McElroy, with the latter controlling the race by the time the half mile marker was reached in a rapid :57/4.

Not content with the pace and eager to hear his name called by the announcer, Kenny Oliver, pulled the trigger on the lightning fast, 5 yr old gelded son of Pacific Rocket, Pacific Oak, tipping him three wide down the back stretch, going from 6thto 3rdby a neck, past the three quarters, before turning him loose around the top turn charging towards the finish line full throttle, hammer down, opening up to win by 6 full lengths going away.

XLB Patrick had all he wanted but held for second while Shadywood Baron came flying from the back of the bus to nab the show spot. Time for the mile 1:57/3.

Shirley and Kerry House of St Jacobs, Ontario took home the $9,200. purse check. Pacific Oak returned $10.60 to win, with a solid Triactor payout of $734.80 flashing up on the board for the punters.

In the 9thrace a field of seven set up behind the gate to contest a Preferred-2 pace worth $12,800.

There wasn't much confusion about who'd be controlling the pace in this race, as the entire field of drivers lined up single file, off the switch to watch the back of Bruce Richardson helmet while he pointed Oakley Seelster, the short way around the half mile oval, to score a win by three open lengths in an honest time of 1:58/4. Last quarter in a quick :29/3, off a smoking front quarter of :28 flat.

John Kennedy of Woodstock, Ontario, trains the consistent, Western Maverick, performer for his partner Clayton Walmsely of Walkerton, Ontario.

The final Preferred race of the day was a $15,200. Fillies & Mares Preferred, going post ward in the 12th and final dash on the card. The race saw eight aged mares file in behind the starting gate to do battle for the bulk of the purse money on offer.

Lulas Filly and Brad Forward tripped out behind Trace Of Luck and Mike Horner as they cut out even fractions of :28/4, :59/1, 1:28/1, to seal the victory in 1:58/4. Forward delivered up a picture perfect two hole ride and his Keystone Raider mare responded to win by half a length at the wire. Goldies Cam and Bruce Richardson came first up past the quarter pole grinding out a third place finish for trainer Rod Duford and owner Larry Pollard of Harrow, Ontario.

The tremendously gifted Luck Of Michelle, Cam Luck-Michelles Destiny, mare didn't fair to good today finishing 6th beaten 4/Q lengths in 1:58/4. The $900,000. plus winner made her claim to fame setting a track record of 1:53/3 for a 2yr old pacing filly back in June of 2006 at Flamboro Downs. She never got a check today but keep in mind, she still only got beat a quarter of a length, by the horse that finished third. Nobody ever said getting old was easy!

Robert LEATHAM