Forty-seven-race losing streak ended at Georgian

Perfect Rolo (Perfect Union) added a second career harness racing win on Tuesday (Aug. 23) at Georgian Downs, ending a winless run of 47 starts.

Jason Ryan pulled the six-year-old out of the five-hole nearing the half but got no response until entering the final quarter. The horse began reeling in the leaders as he rounded the last turn and surged late to collar heavy favourite Talk To Me Artie (J. Bradley Harris) at the line in 1:56.

PERFECT ROLO REPLAY

Perfect Rolo’s time matched that of his first victory, which he attained in his 49th try. He has earned $45,153 in his 97 lifetime starts. Kelly Duval-Lacaille took over training from owner/breeder Sylvain Lacaille in the leadup to the horse’s five-year-old season and guided him to his maiden-breaking win two weeks into the campaign.

Later on the card, Alberta Sires Stakes champion Dontpokethedragon (Custard The Dragon, Travis Cullen) surpassed $200,000 in earnings and set a new lifetime mark of 1:51.3 in a four-length romp over conditioned rivals. The five-year-old gelding, now trained by Jodie Cullen for J J J Stables, Paul Sanders, and Travis Cullen, moved from British Columbia to Ontario prior to the 2022 season. He has now won two straight at Georgian and four total since the move. He is 21-for-73 lifetime with $203,360 in earnings.

Easy Flyer’s (Pang Shui) was the performance of the night. The seven-year-old gelding notched his eighth win of the year and 29th overall with a five-and-a-quarter-length margin in 1:54.3. He changed hands for the third time in four weeks as Craig Ellis of Barrie claimed him for $9,500.

Live racing resumes at Georgian Downs on Saturday, Aug. 27. The rescheduled $100,000 Earl Rowe Memorial is set for Sunday.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink