Driver Garrett Rooney worked out a perfect pocket trip aboard Solid Queen to take the $7,500 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace on Wednesday evening at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

 

Rooney and inside starter Solid Queen secured pocket position early on as Bestulldotanite,(Robert Shepherd) crossed to command from post seven and carved out panels of :29, :59.3 and 1:28.4 over the sloppy surface. Meanwhile, Bob McClure sent Legal Process went three-wide around a parked-from-the-start Eat Me Up (Lorne House) on the backstretch and up to challenge Bestulldotanite turning for home. However, Solid Queen came through along the pylons in the stretch to score the victory in 1:59.1 with 9-5 favourite Regal Luck (Paul MacKenzie) closing outside to edge out Legal Process and Bestulldotanite for the runner-up honours.

 

Sent postward as the 2-1 second choice on the toteboard, Solid Queen paid $6 to win.

 

Keith Cullen trains the seven-year-old Riverboat King-In Solid mare, who now boasts three wins and three second-place finishes from seven starts this year for owner Dwayne Soulliere of Belle River, Ont.