After 20 tries, first Preferred win

Bonus Round (Santanna Blue Chip) fired clear from the pocket to win a Preferred harness racing contest for the first time in 20 attempts at the class at Century Downs on Saturday (Apr. 20).

The gelding let Samba Beat (Phil Giesbrecht) dictate fractions of :27.3, :58.3, and 1:26.2, sitting second until David Kelly pulled him out coming around the final turn. Samba Beat managed resistance to the head of the stretch, but Bonus Round kicked away to a four-and-a-quarter-length victory in 1:54.3. Icy Blue Scooter (Nathan Sobey) passed the fading pacesetter for second off a first-over trip. Samba Beat held third.

BONUS ROUND REPLAY

It was Bonus Round’s first Preferred-level win in his 20th start at the level. The six-year-old has now tallied 14 career wins and has earned $136,010 for Pick 6 Stable of Strathmore. Kelly has been the gelding’s only trainer and has driven him in 73 of his 76 appearances.

Kelly also won with trainees Panda Beer (Vertical Horizon, Jamie Gray, 1:56.2) and Lunch Pail Guy (Santanna Blue Chip, Kelly, 1:57) for the conditioning triple.

Giesbrecht ended the night with four winners on the 10-race slate.

Century Downs continues racing on Friday, Apr. 26.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink