Lifetime best for eight-year-old Preferred winner

Eight-year-old harness racing trotter Scene A Magician (Daylon Magician) shaved a second off his lifetime mark in a dominant Preferred victory at Grand River Raceway on Monday (Jul. 4).

The gelding, starting from post two, briefly allowed Los Ballykeelamigo (Scott Coulter) to take the lead after a first-turn clash but made a speedy move to seize control as they hit the quarter in :28.4. Aussie Lover (J. Bradley Harris) took up the first-over burden and attacked Scene A Magician as they passed the half in :58.3.

Driver Garrett Rooney gave Scene A Magician some right-handed reminders to three-quarters in 1:27, and the gelding edged away going into the last turn. He blew the doors wide open in the stretch and scored going away by three lengths.

Aussie Lover pressed on valiantly to be second-best. Los Ballykeelamigo finished third.

Scene A Magician has made all 120 lifetime starts for trainer Jennifer Pinkerton with 26 wins and $317,771 in earnings. He established his previous best time of 1:57.2 earlier this year. Pinkerton took sole ownership of him in September 2018. The gelding was second in the Legends Day Trot for Carl Jamieson, the first time since October 2021 Garrett Rooney has not taken the lines.

Saulsbrook Jessie (Big Jim) captured the Fillies and Mares Preferred Pace. Brett MacDonald guided the six-year-old to a wire-to-wire victory in 1:55.1. Catch An Ace (Anthony Haughan) followed her throughout and finished second. Ladies From Hell (Coulter) took show.

Saulsbrook Jessie has raced up a quarter-century of wins in 97 lifetime outings and has earned $226,956. Ronald MacDonald conditions her for Edward Gorc of Sudbury.

In the card’s two-year-old contest, Chocolateforlunch (Dali) prevailed in a stretch duel to win on debut for Coulter and trainer Debi O’Brien-Moran. The filly gave up an early lead to Ms Liz C (Betterthancheddar, Tyler Moore), circled her in the third quarter, and held on by a head for the victory.

Roulette Hanover (All Bets Off, Stephen Byron) gained late to finish third.

Chocolateforlunch races for The Stable’s Choclatforlunch group. She is out of Ontario Sires Stakes champion Simply Marvelous (Western Maverick), who has produced five winners in seven foals.

Preferred pacers meet on Grand River Raceway’s Wednesday, Jul. 6 card. Racing will start at 6:30 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink