Left out in the cold, Run Like Hill gets it done

Run Like Hill (Muscle Hill) was first-up from the half in 11°C weather and persevered to take the Preferred Trot at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Tuesday (Jan. 31).

Colin Kelly directed the harness racing gelding into the three-hole and watched the top two swap places on route to a :28.4 first quarter. Run Like Hill joined the action as the field passed the grandstand, and he started cutting into the lead to the half in 1:00.4.

The challenger chipped away until he overwhelmed Esquire (Tyler Borth), who gave up the lead at three-quarters in 1:30.3. Run Like Hill powered clear on the final turn, and he trotted strongly home to seal the win by a length-and-a-half in 2:01.

Marvin Hagler (Brett MacDonald) followed the winner’s cover home for second. O Narutac Perfetto (Scott Coulter) closed to take third.

RUN LIKE HILL REPLAY

Run Like Hill’s win was his first at the free-for-all level. It also increased his career earnings past the six-digit threshold to $103,327. Francis Guillemette owns and trains the six-year-old, who is now 12-for-68 lifetime.

Also on the card, Larry Jewitt recorded his first training win since 2020 with rookie four-year-old Twentyeight Late (Lyonssomewhere). The mare, in rein to Lorne House, led at every call and broke her maiden at the third time of asking in 2:03. Dennis Jewitt of Wingham bred and owns the mare. Larry Jewitt, prior to his three starts this year with Twentyeight Late, had not sent a horse out since Curious Cortez in 2020. His most recent win was with that gelding on Jan. 6, 2020.

TWENTYEIGHT LATE REPLAY

All 10 races on the program were won by a different driver.

The Raceway at the Western Fair District will continue racing on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 5:50 p.m. EST. The card features a Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink