Hemlock Channel's Harvest Plate win sets mark

Hemlock Channel took advantage of a fast and contested pace to win the $100,000 Harvest Plate at Century Downs on Sunday.

He paid $9.30 for his 2 1/2-length win in the seven-furlong sprint for 3-year-olds and up.

His final time of 1:22.75 is the fastest for the distance at the new track, which opened Sept. 23. The Greg Tracy-trained son of E. Dubai also owns the track record for 6 1/2 furlongs at Northlands Park.

With Rico Walcott aboard, the 8-year-old Ontario-bred bided his time while his stablemate Blue Dancer and Private Money Game dueled through quick interior fractions of 21.73 and 44.53. He started to get into the race at the three-eighths pole, and by the time they hit the middle of the stretch turn he was in full flight while circling the field. He was a length behind Private Money Game at the eighth pole before drawing off to win decisively.

Royal Warrior rallied from last to finish second. Sir Bronx stalked the pace while finishing third.

“I knew they were going pretty fast early so I just let him settle,” Walcott said. “When I asked him to run at the three-eighths pole he just took off."

“It is very satisfying to have an 8-year-old running at this level,” Tracy said. “He just has so much class.”

In the $50,000 Founders Distaff Handicap, Tara’s Way paid $17.10 for her one-length win over Anstrum in the 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares. Trained by Rick Hedge and ridden by Shamaree Muir, she posted a final time of 1:45.49.

Heavily favored Escape Clause contested the pace before finishing third.