One of the oldest harness racing stakes in western Canada, the Manitoba Great Western Stakes, was held Saturday (Sep. 16). Seven of the top three-year-olds in Manitoba went to battle over the $13,579 prize money and the disguised honour of adding their name to the list of 75 others that have won the Manitoba Great Western.
Handsome Dan (State Treasurer) took the early lead going into the first turn. He was gifted a multiple-length lead heading down the backstretch as the rail horse, Supa Fast, went off stride, causing interference. Blake Piwniuk steered Handsome Dan to a 59.3 opening half mile, and the duo coasted to the winner’s circle. Handsome Dan has won two of his three starts at the Loop, and the 2:01.2 mile time is his best since leaving Alberta.
HANDSOME DAN REPLAY
The victory is another feather in the cap for Piwniuk, who has already had a fantastic year. He had 38 wins heading into Saturday’s card and left with another three. He has earned over $100,000 as a driver this year after the dust settled on the seventh day of racing at the Loop.
Trevor Williams adds to his legacy with another big-time win and surpasses $100,000 in yearly earnings for only the second time in his training career.
Handsome Dan was bred and is owned by long-time Manitoba harness racing community members Fred and Alice Gilbert. This is the first Manitoba Great Western Stakes win for the Gilberts. They also went to the winner’s circle as owners when Tuff As Buff (Sunshine Beach) won the eighth race.
Darryl Mason had himself a day that would have usually been the headline and ended up with a driving hat trick. Mason’s first win came in the day’s second race when he guided Fan C That (Armbro Baylor) to victory. This is the three-year-old colt’s first career victory, and he posted a 2:06.1 mile time in the process.
Mason was also in the bike when B Special (Mystery Chase) picked up his first win of 2023. The five-year-old mare won race seven in the time of 2:01.3 and did so wire-to-wire.
The hypothetical hats flew onto the track when Mason booked his third trip to the winner’s circle with Aime Hanover (Betting Line) after the ninth race. Mason only had one driving win heading into the day.
The Loop will host racing again on Sep. 23. Post time is set for 2:00 p.m. CDT.
For complete race results,Ā click here.
byĀ Trey Colbeck, for Harnesslink