Royal Cover Up gave way to Murphys Ideal early on, but then retook the lead in deep stretch to pull off a 14-1 upset in the $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Handicap Pace at The Raceway at the Western Fair District on Wednesday night.

 

Both mares were stepping up from the Preferred 3 class and last week's winner, Murphys Ideal, made an early move under the command of driver Alfie Carroll after ducking briefly in third and rushed to the lead over Royal Cover Up and Ryan Holliday. Murphys Ideal hit the opening quarter mark in :28.4 and proceeded to lead the field of eight by the half in :59.2 and three-quarters in 1:29.4 over a track listed as "good" with a four second allowance.

 

Meanwhile, Insincerity and Scott Coulter advanced first over, but were only able to make it to the leader's saddle pad before 4-5 favourite Jabas Luck, driven by Scott Young, fanned wide off cover into the stretch.

 

However, it was the pylon-skimming Royal Cover Up who got up in time to steal the glory, resulting in a $31 win payout for the evening's feature race. The seven-year-old Royal Mattjesty mare stopped the clock in 2:01.3, prevailing by a quarter-length over Murphys Ideal. Insincerity won the race for show, finishing one and a half lengths behind and edging out Jabas Luck and the Mike Sumner-driven Mother Hen.

 

Royal Cover Up has won two of her last three starts at the London, Ontario oval for
trainer Brian Hodgson and owner Donald Hodgson of Dorchester, Ont. Wednesday's victory was her 13th lifetime and pushed her career bankroll over the $100,000 mark.

 

Denise Anderson's homebred gelding Cimeronken won the $7,000 Preferred 3 Trot at 6-1 odds with Billy Davis Jr. in the sulky for trainer Daryl Roberts. The six-year-old son of Ken Warkentin, who was shuffled to last at the half, travelled three-wide down the backstretch and came on to score his 16th career victory in 2:04.2 by two lengths. Torches Angel (Tyler Moore) and Just One Day (Ryan Holliday) rounded out the top three finishers.

 

To view Wednesday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Wednesday Results - Western Fair.