Career-best for Artspeak mare in London Preferred

J One Twenty (Artspeak) took her first career Preferred harness racing victory in a lifetime-best performance at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Wednesday (May 1).

J One Twenty outmuscled Caesars Shot (Brett MacDonald) to take the lead for Tyler Borth on the first trip down the backstretch in a :27.3 first quarter. She reached the half in :57.3 before Carsons Gouda (Travis Henry) appeared first-over and pushed the leader along to three-quarters in 1:26.

Carsons Gouda struggled to make progress coming around the final turn, but Caesars Shot shifted out of the pocket and uncorked her pace in the sprint for home. The racelong pocket-sitter kicked into top gear, but she could not nab J One Twenty, who held on by a quarter-length in 1:55.

Carsons Gouda finished third.

J ONE TWENTY REPLAY

J One Twenty returned after nearly a year off in March and is three-for-10 on the season. The five-year-old has now earned $95,494 and has won 16 times from 36 starts for owners John Obrien of Lucan and Jerry Sims of Denfield. Sims trains the mare.

The card also saw Mighty Mary (Hes Watching) remain unbeaten this season with a fifth straight win. The four-year-old went all the way with Dan Clements in the bike and knocked four-fifths off her lifetime mark with a mile of 1:56. Jason Libby conditions the mare, now with eight wins and $45,418 in earnings in 21 career starts, for Gary and Joyce Gonyou.

MIGHTY MARY REPLAY

Racing returns to The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Friday, May 3 at 5:50 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink