Making her debut at The Raceway at the Western Fair District, four-year-old pacing mare Kayla Grace went from last at the half to first across the wire in the featured $10,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 2 Handicap on a snowy Wednesday night in London, Ont.
Kayla Grace fanned four-wide down the backstretch and swept past the field of seven to notch her first win of the year in 2:00.3 over the track rated "good." Favourite Zip Car was parked from the start and still managed to edge out pacesetter Mother Hen for second-place honours over one length behind the winner.
Skip DeMull drove the Michigan-bred daughter of Hes All That for trainer Kevin St. Charles and his partners from E C S Racing LLC. Kayla Grace, an 18-time winner last season, now has 31 victories in 45 starts lifetime and earnings totalling $167,806.
She paid $9.30 to win as the 7-2 third choice.
Keystone Orion ($7.20) and driver Nick Steward won the $7,700 Preferred 3 Trot in 2:02 by four and a half lengths over the rallying favourite, Order By Commander, and gusty first over challenger, Moonbeam Hall. The six-year-old gelded son of Angus Hall picked up his first victory of the year for Anthony and Albina Montini of Acton, Ont.