Tough effort gets it done at Exhibition Park

Father Ofthe Year (Royal Mattjesty) drew away after a first-over mission to defeat Winners-Over harness racing opposition by more than five lengths at Exhibition Park Raceway on Saturday.

Sent away at 1/9, Father Ofthe Year dropped back from duelling leaders in third as Woodmere Ideal Art (Kyle Mason) battled to the front in a :28.1 first quarter. Michael Downey activated Father Ofthe Year nearing the half in :58.2, and the nine-year-old gelding rolled by the leader on the backstretch as they neared three-quarters in 1:28.2.

Father Ofthe Year maintained full speed after taking the front and widened his margin to five-and-three-quarter lengths as he won in 2:00.

Woodmere Ideal Art was an easy second. Frontier Cruise (John Davidson, Sr.) emerged third from a photo with Ubettimagoodone (Todd Trites).

FATHER OFTHE YEAR REPLAY

Father Ofthe Year has won 19 of his 52 career starts and has earned $44,562. He is two-for-five this season off a year-and-a-half layoff beginning in September 2020. Ellen Stevenson trains him for Mitchell Downey of Saint John.

Exhibition Park Raceway continues with its Saturday schedule on Jun. 18.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink