P L Oliver starts season perfect

P L Oliver (Sportswriter), a recent addition to the Preferred ranks of Ontario harness racing, began his season perfectly with a wire-to-wire victory at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Tuesday (Jan. 3).

The five-year-old struck first for Colin Kelly in the centre of the track. He controlled the pace, clashed with Clever Character (Travis Cullen) through the final quarter, and held off the belated charge of the class’s Dec. 27 winner Roll With The Flow (Travis Henry) to take the victory in 1:56.1. Roll With The Flow was a neck short. Clever Character held third in a photo.

P L OLIVER REPLAY

It was the 11th win in 67 career starts for P L Oliver. Matthew Dupuis of Rockwood owns and trains the gelding, whose earnings now total $135,612.

In the twin trotting Preferred Handicap, O Narutac Perfetto (Deweycheatumnhowe, Scott Coulter) also started his season with a win. The 12-year-old scored by a length-and-three-quarters in 2:00.2 over Crossfit (Henry). Scene A Magician was third. The winner has won 35 times in 247 career tries and earned $644,513.

O NARUTAC PERFETTO REPLAY

Garrett Rooney landed four of his charges in the winner’s circle on the card. Combined with his one opening night winner, he now leads the track’s drivers’ standings.

One of Rooney’s tallies was aboard Straight Talker (Warrawee Needy), who became Canada’s first $100+ win payout of the year. The four-year-old mare, in her second career win and first since May 2022, returned $122.60 as she romped by three-and-a-half lengths in 2:00.4.

Racing will continue at The Raceway at The Western Fair District at 4:50 p.m. EST on Friday, Jan. 6.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink