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Drumheller Wires Open Pacers At Wawanesa

Drumheller delivered on his pari-mutuel promise with a convincing four length triumph in the $5,300 MHHI & MSSBA Four-Year-Old Open Pace at Wawanesa on Saturday.

With trainer-driver Greg Manning in the sulky, the gelded son of Badlands Hanover-I Wish I Knew showed the way past panels of :30.1, 1:00 and 1:29.2 with eventual fourth-place finisher Crush On Clinton (Dean Rey) looming from first over. That rival never seriously threatened the leader though and Drumheller only improved his margin as time went on. The fan favourite opened up a four length lead down the lane before stopping the clock in a career-best 1:58.4. Pocket-sitter Albertas Dragon (Michel Rey) finished second while Magic Cross (Darryl Mason) improved one position in the race to finish third.

Donald Ransom of Boissevain, MB and Keith Earle of Winnipeg, MB share ownership of the bay gelding. Drumheller has recorded three wins and has yet to finish off the board in eight seasonal starts. He paid $2.70 to win.

Palmer captured the $2,000 second leg division of the MHHI Claiming Series for $3,500 claiming pacers, which was contested over a distance of 1-1/4 miles. The seven-year-old son of As Promised-After The Legends rallied three-wide from the backfield and stormed home to prevail by a neck in 2:33.1. Trainer-driver Dallas McGee and Lottie McGee of Deloraine, MB share ownership of the winner with Verne Rea of Calgary, Alt.