Things didn't go exactly as driver Jason Bartllett had planned, but in the end the sport's defending Driver of the Year managed to steer Lou Hill from the pocket to victory in Friday's C$150,000 Grade 3 Camluck Classic at The Raceway at Western Fair District. Lou Hill, a 5-year-old son of Sweet Lou, paced the mile in 1:51 2/5, going past pace-setter Helium N in the stretch. Bartlett had Lou Hill on his toes at the outset from post three and looked to be rolling past rail starting Helium N with Dan Noble in the bike, but Noble and other ideas and energized his horse midway on the first turn to keep Bartlett from crossing over. Lou Hill settled in the pocket soon after, and Helium N controlled the first quarter in 26 3/5. Calicojack Hanover got off the pylons late on the second turn, and he flushed Donegal Luther N, with Yannick Gingras, to the outside. Helium N had the half in 54 4/5 but would be put to pressure, with Donegal Luther N advancing on the outside as three-quarters was reached in 1:22 4/5. Bartlett had a solid hold on Lou Hill in the pocket and was looking for room with Helium N in front and Donegal Luther N to his flank. Late on the final turn a seam opened, and Bartlett was quick to get the Per Engblom-trained Lou Hill in high gear, pacing quickly past the leader before opening ground to the wire. Calicojack Hanover rallied for third, with Poseidon Seelster and Brue Hanover completing the top five. Owned and bred by Tom Hill, Lou Hill returned $2.50 while winning for the seventh time in 11 starts this year. "I wanted to cut the mile with him but sometimes things don't go your way," said Bartlett following the victory. "He's very versatile and I was just hoping to get out." Grit N Grace, with Jody Jamieson in the bike, captured the C$50,000 Forest City Invitational Pace for mares in a track record-setting 1:52 2/5 performance. Grit N Grace stormed to the front on the first turn and never looked back, holding off pocket-sitter Raptors Won in the homestretch, with last year's champion Caviar N Crackers rallying from third-over for the show spot. Trained by Michael Kwietniowski and owned by Lorraine Rey, Grit N Grace was a winner for the first time in 2026 in her fourth start. ► Sign up for our FREE DRF Harness Digest Newsletter London Classic Sale Series finals see strong favorite performances Favorites shone brightly in the quartet of C$40,000 London Classic Sale Series finals, capturing three of four divisions: Southern Cowboy - Horse & Gelding Trot (2:00) Aunt Gertrude - Filly & Mare Pace (1:56 2/5) Skip The Honey - Horse & Gelding Pace (1:55 4/5) The lone mild upset came in the Filly & Mare Trot, where second-choice Look A Diamond prevailed in 1:59 2/5. Ontario Sires Stakes action and record trot performance A trio of Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots divisions for 3-year-old filly pacers added further depth to the card: Could Be A Queen - 1:55 3/5 (Driver: James MacDonald) My Girl Friday - 1:54 4/5 (Driver: James MacDonald) Tainted Love - 1:56 3/5 (Driver: Jason Bartlett) Garry Merner, who trains Tainted Love, enjoyed a memorable evening, also sending out Passarino to victory in the $16,000 Preferred Trot. Driven by Mark MacDonald, Passarino delivered a historic performance, stopping the clock in 1:54 3/5 to establish a new track trotting record at the London, Ontario, oval. Strong wagering caps memorable night The Camluck Classic program attracted a total handle of C$825,000, marking an increase over the 2025 figure. On-track wagering was particularly strong, posting a 15% increase year-over-year, as local fans were out en masse for the closing night card. --with files from Western Fair--