Gassien picks up where he left off at Kawartha

Reg Gassien, 2022 leading harness racing driver at Kawartha Downs, immediately took the lead to begin the 2023 meet with four winners on the opening day card on Saturday (May 20).

He started the season perfectly with a victory in the opener. The reinsman guided Just Shocking (Heston Blue Chip) to victory, inheriting the lead after a break and strode to the finish in 2:00.1. It was also an instant lead for last year’s leading trainer, Thomas Riley.

Gassien then went back-to-back as he drove Barrys Shelby (Mach Three) to a three-quarter-length win over Ahi (Nick Boyd) in the second. The 11-year-old gelding was timed in 2:00 in the tally for trainer Stephen Gassien and owner Beth Doyle.

Riley and Gassien combined for another victory in the sixth dash with Julerica (American Ideal), who tallied his 55th career win in 1:58.3. The 11-year-old got passed Mad Man  Hill (John Thompson) late and held off Matts Tuition (Samuel Fillion) to score in his Kawartha Downs debut.

Gassien completed his grand slam with Sonofamillionaire (Donato Hanover), who pursued a first-up move to fruition to win in 2:00. The Russell Bax-trained gelding was making his seasonal debut.

The latter two wins were the day’s co-features.

Kawartha Downs has 18 total race dates in its 51st season of racing. The next will be on Saturday, May 27.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink