Ideal Perception back on top at London

Ideal Perception (American Ideal) captured The Raceway at the Western Fair District’s Preferred Pace crown on Monday (May 13), more than five months after his most recent win at the top harness racing level.

The stallion took his male rivals wire-to-wire for Anthony Haughan, fending off pocket-tripper Docsphillycheese (Alfie Carroll) down the lane to take the victory in 1:54. Docsphillycheese was a half-length short in second. Pembrook Legacy N (Jason Ryan) completed the ticket.

IDEAL PERCEPTION REPLAY

Ideal Perception, a Tony Beaton-trained seven-year-old, has won 29 of his 137 lifetime starts and has racked up $378,960 in his bank. The consistent stallion has earned a cheque in every start since November 2023 and has hit the board in 12 of 15 starts this season. He last won the London Preferred on New Year’s Day. Lisa Lefort of Waterdown owns him.

Scene A Magician (Daylon Magician) took the co-featured Preferred Trot. Fresh off his first win of the season, the gelding took the lead nearing three-quarters for Garrett Rooney and battled off Marvin Hagler (Brett MacDonald) for the victory in 1:57. Marvin Hagler was a hard-fought second. Takeapeak At Me (Travis Henry) got up late for third.

SCENE A MAGICIAN REPLAY

Scene A Magician is now 33-for-149 lifetime and has earned $395,104. Jennifer Pinkerton of Mount Brydges owns and trains the 10-year-old gelding.

Rooney continued his strong season with four more wins on Monday’s card. The reinsman, coming off a career year, is winning at a 19.7 per cent clip in 2024 with 115 wins in 584 starts. He leads the London drivers’ standings with a tally of 104, 29 more than Tyler Borth.

Racing resumes at The Raceway at the Western Fair District with a 10-dash program on Tuesday, May 14, starting at 5:50 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink