Fort Silky refuses to lose

The venerable Fort Silky showed plenty of grit and determination in last night’s feature race at Balmoral Park, taking the “Winner’s Over” event in front-end fashion with a 1:51.2 mile, the harness racing 9-year-old’s 52nd career victory.

Regular driver Casey Leonard rated the ICF pacer perfectly and when it counted in the lane, Fort Silky ($10.80) put away a stretch bid first by the pocket horse Best Man Hanover and later by the first-over Iam Bonasera to post a head victory.

Sent off as the 4-1 third choice, Fort Silky out-sprinted Best Man Hanover for control. After a :27.4 first quarter Leonard was able to get away with a crucial 29 second breather while Travis Seekman was taking Iam Bonasera out of sixth and was at the winner’s bike at the :56.4 half–mile pole.

Fort Silky kept Iam Bonasera out through the three-quarters, reached in 1:24.4. The Terry Leonard trainee looked he was going to get passed but the multi-stake Illinois bred champion came up with one of his “refuse to lose” efforts after a two-week rest and proved best for the second time in four season starts.

Iam Bonasera took second while the 8-5 favorite Firstclassallthway, stuck inside in fourth most of the way, was a fast-closing third with his :26.1 final panel.

Owned by Paw Paw, Illinois’ John Prentice and Neva Jane Keeler, Fort Silky has now earned $722,237 in his splendid career.

Saturday Tidbits: John De Long and Mike Oosting each had a trio of winning drives on Saturday’s program while Casey Leonard had a pair of winners. . . Balmoral tallied its first $1 million-plus handle of the year when $1,019,198 was bet . . . The Saturday $1 Pick Four of 3-5-3-5 on the last four races paid off handsomely at $5,222.

Mike Paradise