London Preferred thriller decided by a nose

So Frisky (Dali) got the benefit of the photo as she tracked down and nailed her prior cover on the line to win the harness racing Fillies and Mares Preferred at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Wednesday (Mar. 8).

Colin Kelly floated the mare out from post seven and crossed her over into the four-hole on the first turn as Casimir Swamp Girl (Jason Ryan) and Big Diamond (Austin Sorrie) battled for control. They created a :26.4 first quarter but turned down the heat to the half in :56.1 while still racing side-by-side, and So Frisky moved onto the back of Big Diamond.

So Frisky pulled three-wide as Big Diamond began to fade on the third turn, but pocket-sitter Saulsbrook Jessie (Brett MacDonald) also slipped out and became the new challenger to Casimir Swamp Girl on the backside. So Frisky then followed second-over as MacDonald worked vigorously on Saulsbrook Jessie and pushed her into the lead on the homeward turn. Saulsbrook Jessie put away Casimir Swamp Girl coming down the stretch, but So Frisky, who fanned wide at the top of the lane, wore down the leader and ignited in the last 1/16th of a mile to catch her and take the victory in 1:58.

Sea Change N (Dan Clements) rallied for third.

SO FRISKY REPLAY

So Frisky’s victory was her second of the season in seven starts. The Anita Ouellette-trained mare also won the Feb. 10 Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap at London. The seven-year-old is 31-for-109 lifetime and has earned $247,053. Luc Ouellette Incorporated of Campbellville owns the mare.

The Raceway at the Western Fair District will continue racing on Friday, Feb. 10.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink