Saulsbrook Olympia snags London Preferred

Saulsbrook Olympia (Big Jim) battled to a Fillies and Mares Preferred Handicap harness racing victory on Wednesday (May 22) in her second start since leaving the Woodbine Mohawk Park ranks.

The mare occupied the four-hole for Colin Kelly in the field of five through the quarter in :28 and half in :58.3. She moved out while turning toward the backstretch and trudged first-over through three-quarters in 1:27.1.

Major League N held her at bay on the final turn, but the challenger began to encroach coming down the stretch as My Mother Pearl (Dale Spence) also looked to attack from the pocket. Saulsbrook Olympia surged in the final 1/16th of a mile and got by Major League N late to win in 1:56.1.

Major League N was second-best. Flip The Script (Brett MacDonald) took the show spot.

MAJOR LEAGUE N REPLAY

The win was Saulsbrook Olympia’s 26th lifetime in 87 starts. The 2021 Kin Pace winner was racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park, Canada’s top track, from September to May before moving to London on May 15. She was second in the Preferred in that effort. Vernon Cochrane trains the six-year-old for Ed Gorc of Sudbury.

The card also featured the second legs of the City of London for pacers. La Sun Control (Control The Moment) won his fifth straight race in the first group of horses and geldings in a four-and-a-half-length romp timed in 1:54.1. Kelly drove the Rick Edwards-trained four-year-old to the score, the gelding’s eighth lifetime.

LA SUN CONTROL REPLAY

Gigitigigitygigity (Sportswriter) took the second division, storming to the front from first-over to win by three-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:56.1. MacDonald piloted the three-year-old for trainer Rene Dion and owners RAW Equine and S&R Racing Stable. The gelding is now four-for-17 lifetime.

GIGITYGIGITYGIGITY REPLAY

Rollthebet (All Bets Off) took the first division for fillies and mares in 1:56.1, breaking her maiden in her fourth lifetime start. She came off Saulsbrook Diva (Kelly) cover’s and got by her to win by three-quarters-of-a-length with Austin Sorrie in the bike. Rollthebet, owned and trained by Rachel Andrew, was fifth in the first leg and has now earned $6,080.

ROLLTHEBET REPLAY

Sauble Lila (State Treasurer) made it seven wins in 11 lifetime outings as she took the final split in 1:56.3. Jason Ryan guided the three-year-old to the length-and-three-quarter score for trainer Otis Hall and owners Sauble Hill Farms and Nasussito Racing.

SAUBLE LILA REPLAY

The City of London Series for pacers reaches its finale on May 31. The trotters will contest their second leg on May 24 before their finals, also on May 31. The eligibility for the event is Ontario-sired horses four years old and younger that have not earned $10,000 as of Mar. 1.

Racing resumes at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Friday, May 24 at 5:50 p.m. EDT.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink