Day sweeps all six races in Women’s Driving Championship final

“It’s no pipe dream–it’s reality!”

So went the race call when Natasha “Nat” Day and Azucar Pipedream crossed the wire first in race 6 at The Raceway at Western Fair Friday (October 14) night, sealing the deal in her six-race sweep of the 2022 OLG Ontario Women’s Driving Championship harness racing final.

She tallied 118 total points, well ahead of runners-up Marielle Enberg and Julie Walker, who dead-heated for place with 80 points each.

Pam Forgie finished fourth overall (50 points), ahead of Maggie Jones (43 points), Samara Johnson (42 points), Debi O’Brien Moran (25 points), Brittany Kennedy (21 points), and Marie-Claude Auger (16 points), who was unable to continue in the series.

The nine drivers who competed across Ontario at five racetracks (Dresden, Leamington, Hanover, Grand River, and The Raceway at Western Fair) donated their series earnings to Harness the Hope, the breast cancer fundraiser that also celebrated its 17th anniversary Friday night at London.

Day’s six straight winners on the card were:

Race 1: #2 Rose Run Why Not ($2.60; 2:00.3h for owner/trainer Bryan Lawrence and co-owner Stuart Lawrence, Smirk Inc, ON);

Race 2: #3 Upgrade Valley ($2.70; 1:57.3h for owner/trainer Paul Smith, Woodstock, ON);

Race 3: #7 What Can I Say ($11.30; 2:04.1h for trainer Jared Bako and owner Ashley Bako, Aylmer, ON);

Race 4: #5 Mister X ($3.90; 1:58.2h for trainer Michelle Sherman and owner Kyle Strejch, Coldwater, ON);

Race 5: #6 Jayport Roadrunner ($3.40; 2:02.1h for trainer Tyler Borth, who co-owns with William Borth, Ingersoll, ON and Martin Hossak, Thamesford, ON);

Race 6: #1 Azucar Pipedream ($3.30; 2:00.3h for owner/trainer Thomas Hamm, Strathroy, ON).

The all-Day early Pick-5 returned $323.60 for the $1 ticket.

“I’ve never done six before, so yeah–I’m pretty happy with that. That’s a first,” said an elated Day in the winners’ circle after her last victory (and drive) of the card. When asked if there was anything else she was missing on the night, the repeat champion quipped, “A drink.” Later, she remarked that she was “just blessed with a couple of good, handy horses with front-end speed.” Her gate-to-wire winner Mister X was also voted “Best Dressed Horse” as part of on-track Harness the Hope festivities.

Day collected a $2,000 first-prize cheque, plus custom-made driving colours courtesy of Graham’s Racing Silks, and the championship trophy, sponsored by OLG and Ontario Racing and presented by the track’s Director of Racing, Rob Lumsden.

For complete race results, click here.

by Melissa Keith, for The Raceway