Casimir Swamp Girl returned to harness racing in top form on Wednesday as she ended a six-week layoff with a Fillies and Mares Preferred 3 Pace victory in seasonal best time at Flamboro Downs.
Regular reinsman Colin Kelly ensured the Up The Credit mare capitalized on her inside positioning and hustled her to the lead. She reduced speed significantly after a :27.4 first quarter mile, traveling to the half in :57.3. So Frisky (Alfie Carroll) pulled out at three-eighths and led the two-wide group as they marched on the leader.
Casimir Swamp Girl maintained most of her advantage despite Kelly keeping tight lines as they headed for three-quarters in 1:26.1. Kelly provided little urging in the final panel as the mare handily out-finished her rivals and rolled to the finish in 1:55.
Outlaw Imahotvixen (Travis Cullen) looked shoot up the passing lane but could do no better than second. So Frisky finished third after a taxing first-over trip.
CASIMIR SWAMP GIRL REPLAY
Casimir Swamp Girl has now won 23 times and has earned $134,626 in 44 career tries. Trainer Kyle Bossence laid the mare off after her sixth-place finish in the Gail Murray Memorial on Jul. 31. She blitzed a qualifier on Sep. 8 in preparation for the Wednesday return that improved her seasonās record to five-for-11. William Pendleton of Kenilworth owns her.
Gold Edition captured the co-featured Preferred 3 Trot, winning with a decisive third-quarter brush to the front that saw him lead to the finish. Trainer Blair Burgess drove the five-year-old E L Titan stallion for owners Stirling Fisher of Waterloo and Karin Burgess of Campbellville.
GOLD EDITION REPLAY
The horse is 12-for-75 lifetime and has earned $184,207.
Racing returns to Grand River Raceway on Friday, Sep. 17 with 10 races on a card that will kick off at 6:30 p.m. EDT.
For full race results, click here.
by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink