Bigmachwithcheese feasts in Mark Austin Final

Bigmachwithcheese demolished the $15,900 Mark Austin Pacing Series Final field at Dresden Raceway on Sunday with a resounding nine-length victory.

The gelding was fourth-quickest leaving the gate for Dale Spence but dashed to the front when Shadow Warrior (Tyler Borth) broke stride from the lead and forced second leg winner Stiletto Blue Chip (Jean Rene Plante) to take evasive action and move to the outside rail. Stiletto Blue Chip recovered and took the lead following the quarter in :29, but Bigmachwithcheese stepped around him for front-end control as they hit the half in :57.4.

Bigmachwithcheese carved out a three-length edge by three-quarters in 1:27.2 and left his six opponents behind in the final panel. He crossed the finish line ahead by nine and three-quarter lengths in 1:56.2, a new lifetime mark. Sir Lucknow (Marc St. Louis Jr.) finished second; first leg winner Shes A Comedian (Alfie Carroll) was another five lengths back in third. Stiletto Blue Chip faded to sixth.

Bigmachwithcheese, a five-year-old gelded son of Betterthancheddar, is two-for-four in 2021 after winning two of 25 in his first three seasons of racing. He is four-for-29 overall with $14,495 in earnings Mackenzie Macinnis of Tyne Valley conditions and owns the horse.

“We actually just got him figured out this time last year, and unfortunately he sustained an injury” Spence said in a post-race interview. “The horse has always had talent. Mackenzie’s done a great job nursing him along.”

The Mark Austin Pacing Series memorializes trainer Mark Austin, who began his career at Dresden Raceway in 1980. He won 837 races and collected more than $9 million in purses with his trainees. A Worthy Lad, Oscarsson, Sparky Mark, and Fool Me Once are among his most noteworthy pupils. Austin passed away in 2014.

The series was open to all pacers with less than $5000 in lifetime earnings or those who had never won a race as of Mar. 1, 2021.

“I just want to take a minute and thank Dresden Raceway for putting this race on” Spence said. “It’s a great little series and I think you’ll see us back here every Sunday.

“Unfortunately, I never got to meet Mark myself, but from what I hear, he was an upstanding fella. It’s just an honour as always (to win a memorial race).”

Julie Austin, Mark Austin’s widow, appeared on the track following the race.

“(This event) means so much to us – this place is where Mark got his start, and it means so much to our family,” she said. “Thanks so much to Dresden Raceway for hosting this, and it’s always a great day for our family every year.”

Emily Leak earned her first career training victory with Ynothos in the fifth race on Saturday. Leak owns the horse with driver Preston Shaw, who piloted Ynothos to victory in 1:59. Shaw and Leak purchased the six-year-old Camystic mare in August 2020, but the latter took over training duties for the first time before Ynothos’ Jun. 12 race. The mare has a third, two seconds, and now a win under Leak’s training. The victory came in the conditioner’s 13th start. She also co-owns and trains Better Than Cash and conditions Luckslst Bluegrass and Dont Exclude Me for Shaw.

Dresden Raceway host live racing again on Sunday, Jul. 11.

For full race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink