On Wednesday (June 2), Camwood ($4.80) reclaimed the title as the best pacer on the grounds of Monticello Raceway by virtue of his win in the $6,700 Open Pace.
Starting from the rail and making his Monticello Raceway debut, Brocks Fortune (Brett MacDonald) was fastest off the gate and took the field to the quarter pole in :27.3. First to move approaching the half and starting the outer flow was Cool Blues Man (Cory Stratton), followed by last week’s Open winner, Lacarmeliana. Brocks Fortune led past the half in :57.2. Down the backside, Camwood started his move with Brocks Fortune still showing the way, taking the field to the three-quarters in 1:26.1. At the top of the stretch, pacesetter Brocks Fortune began to tire slightly as Bruce Aldrich and Camwood overtook him to score by a head in 1:55.4. Finishing second was Cool Blues Man, and Brocks Fortune hung on for third.
With horse racing in Canada currently on hiatus, some Ontario horsepeople have ventured south of the border and have had some luck in recent weeks.
Driver Brett MacDonald, a regular at The Raceway at the Western Fair District, has been doing it and doing it well at Northfield Park – coming off a huge Mares Open Pace victory with Bettor Trix N for New Jersey’s Curtin Anz Stable and trainer Patrick Shepherd. She literally ran the competition off their feet on Saturday night (Feb. 6) as a pair of favourites made breaks going to the quarter mile just as she made the front. She controlled fractions of :26.4, :56.1 and 1:24.3 and used a :29 final frame to win easily in 1:53.3. Bettor Trix N had been a regular upper-class mare on the Ontario circuit for trainer J.R. Plante prior to shipping south in the new year.
A pair of Preferred tilts highlighted the Monday evening program at The Raceway at Western Fair District, with Casimir Swamp Girl and Bit Of Luck employing different tactics to take home top spot in their respective events.
Casimir Swamp Girl powered to the lead from Post 7 in the $8,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3, and she didn’t look back en route to a handy score for the tandem of driver Colin Kelly and trainer Kyle Bossence.
The four-year-old daughter of Up The Credit-Trust Me Ashley ripped through panels of :28.3, :58.4 and 1:28.4 before using a :30-second final frame to win by 4-1/4 lengths over Saulsbrook Jessie in 1:58.4. Third prize went to Lifelong Dream.