Western Fair: Jimmy Freight jets to Camluck Classic crown

Jimmy Freight extended his win streak to six with an authoritative 1:50 2/5 victory from first-up in the C$150,000 Camluck Classic for free-for-all pacers on Friday night at The Raceway at Western Fair District.

Driven by Louis-Philippe Roy, Jimmy Freight got away in fifth while Tattoo Artist (James MacDonald), the 4-5 favorite, made front from Poseidon Seelster (Bob McClure) in a 26 1/5 opening quarter. Roy would then send Jimmy Freight first-over on the second turn, and Jimmy Freight advanced into third at the 55 1/5 half.

Tattoo Artist managed to fight off Jimmy Freight to the 1:23 1/5 three-quarters, around the last turn, and into the lane, but in the drive Jimmy Freight came with another kick that Tattoo Artist couldn't match, and Jimmy Freight would go on to score by two lengths. Tattoo Artist had to settle for second, and Poseidon Seelster ended up third. MGM Borgata Pacing Series champion Funatthebeach N (Jordan Stratton) got up for fourth, and last year's Breeders Crown champion Ocean Rock (Jody Jamieson) was fifth.

"That just proved that horse can do whatever he wants. You had some horses in here that just like to race on the front, so they were trying to do that, and maybe torturing each other a little bit. I was just happy the way it was going," remarked Roy. "I didn't care being first-up because that's the just the type of horse he is. I just knew the feeling at three-quarters, I knew I was a winner. I told James 'here comes the train.' He just laughed, him and Bob, after the race."

Richard Moreau trains Jimmy Freight, a 7-year-old Sportswriter stallion, for owner Adriano Sorella. This was his 31st lifetime victory, and he has now earned C$1,708,125. The 2-1 second choice, Jimmy Freight returned $6.20 to win.

In the companion C$50,000 Forest City Pace for mares, Gia's Surreal (McClure) led through fractions of 27 3/5, 56 4/5, and 1:24 3/5, repelled a first-over try from Snow Shark (Travis Cullen) going to three-quarters, and went on to prevail by 5 3/4 lengths in 1:52 4/5, tying the track record. Karma Seelster (Stratton) rallied from eighth at the opening quarter to second at the wire, and Dabarndawgswatchin (Jamieson) overcame making a break going into the first turn to come in third.

"She's just so handy. At a track like this, you want to be able to take advantage of that. She drew well, so I'd say that (going to the lead) was definitely "Plan A." "Plan B," I think she would have taken that in stride, too," said McClure.

A 6-year-old So Surreal mare, Gia's Surreal is trained by Don Lindsey for owners James Graham, Edward Peron, and Lee Winters. This was her 30th career win, and she has now pocketed C$670,742. She was the favorite and paid $3.80 to win.

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While he didn't have any success later on the card, driver Trevor Henry won the first five races on the program, taking three of the City of London Series finals and a pair of Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Series events for 3-year-old pacing fillies.