Western Fair: Covered Bridge captures Camluck Classic

Covered Bridge and Jordan Stratton managed to work out a cover trip and catapulted off that to capture Friday's C$150,000 Camluck Classic at Western Fair in a 1:52 clocking. Sent off as the even-money favorite, Covered Bridge picked off second choice and pace-setter This Is The Plan in mid-stretch, with Roll With The Flow following home in third.

This Is The Plan had the pole position in the field of eight, and driver Ronnie Wrenn Jr. blasted out at the start, forcing Whichwaytothebeach into a two-hole. American History also got a tuck, but Idealsomemagic A and driver Doug McNair were hung on the outside. For a moment Stratton appeared to be opening a hole for that rival but instead got behind his cover on the second turn and followed that cover. This Is The Plan set fractions of 26 4/5 and 56 for the opening-half, using the parked Idealsomemagic A to his advantage.

On the backstretch the final time This Is The Plan accelerated, sprinting a 27 4/5 third quarter, and Stratton could wait no longer, sending Covered Bridge wide. The son of American Ideal hit high gear and devoured the second choice to his eighth win of the year in 17 starts.

Owned by Mark Ford and trained by Jeff Gillis, Covered Bridge scored for the third straight time, having shipped north from Yonkers for the event. Covered Bridge returned $4.30 to win.

"He's just a war horse," said Stratton following the victory. "I was following a pretty good horse (Idealsomemagic A)."

It’s been a career year for Covered Bridge, who with the victory pushed his seasonal bankroll near the $300K mark.

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So Much More and driver James MacDonald managed to sit off blistering first-half speed, then brushed sharply three-wide on the backstretch and through the final turn to score in the C$50,000 Forest City Pace for mares. The 7-year-old had been facing male competition at Woodbine Mohawk Park prior to the Forest City but had little trouble negotiating the half-mile track as she out-sprinted her rivals in a 1:53 mile. Mystifying and driver Doug McNair rallied menacingly on the final turn but couldn't pass the classy So Much More in the homestretch. Gias Surreal took the burden of the early pace and then battled again into the stretch but settled for third.

So Much More is owned in partnership by trainer Don Beatson, Kenneth Beatson and Cole England. The victory was her 64th career triumph. As the heavy favorite So Much More returned $2.60 to win.