from Western Fair Raceway

London, ON — Last year’s Molson Pace was a nightmare for the Burke Racing Stable, but Friday night, May 28, in the richest edition of Western Fair’s signature race worth C$312,000, it was a dream come true as their entrants, Won The West and Foiled Again, finished first and second, respectively.

The start of the race, the 38th edition, was delayed slightly by a recall caused by Won The West who charged the starting gate. Once the eight horses regrouped behind the gate it was Won The West’s stablemate from the Ron Burke barn, Foiled Again, who charged aggressively to the front for Yannick Gingras and had control by the completion of the first turn. Lucky Man, who finished second in last year’s Molson Pace final, was battling for the lead but made a break which took him out of the race.

Iron Horse Photo

Won The West (#1, David Miller) got up at the wire to win the C$312,000 Molson Pace final over stablemate Foiled Again (#4, Yannick Gingras) and Stonebridge Terror (#3, Doug McNair).

Foiled Again paced by the opening quarter in :26.2 and was at the half in :55.3. With lots of action behind them, David Miller pulled Won The West out from the two hole just before the 1:23.3 three-quarters and was neck and neck with Foiled Again around the final turn.

Foiled Again was not going down without a fight though and the two pacers from the Burke barn battled for the front with Stonebridge Terror coming into the fray in the late going as well. It provided a thrilling finish for the large crowd on hand and at the wire it was Won The West in 1:52 followed by Foiled Again and a very game Stonebridge Terror.

“It was getting tight, but he keeps fighting and he held on,” said Miller afterwards. When asked by Frank Salive if the recall affected the horse Miller responded, “Actually he went into the gate real aggressive the first time, he’s the one that caused the recall. I got him settled back down. He wasn’t as bad but I was ready for him the second time.

“I figured that Yannick would get to the lead somewhere and he’d be the horse I’d have to chase down and it worked out way better than I thought. I ended up in the two hole and never had to move until the backstretch. The trip worked out good for me,” added Miller who estimated the track was off at least a second from the rain which fell hard earlier on the program. “Definitely it was faster last week.”

“Once in a lifetime, they don’t come around very often and we’re very fortunate,” said winning co-owner James Koehler describing how it feels to own a horse like Won The West. “I’ve been in it for 48 years. We’re always afraid of him (Foiled Again). We can handle him in the straightaways but he’s tough in the turns.”

It was the third win in five tries this year for Won The West a 6-year-old gelded son of Western Hanover–Gabrielle owned by Strollin Stable, William Robinson and Koehler, all of Ohio. Won The West’s share of the record purse puts his career earnings at C$2,381,836. He was the richest starter in Friday night’s field of premier older pacing horses.

In last year’s Molson Pace the Burke barn saw their iron horse Maltese Artist suffer a catastrophic leg injury in his elimination which led to him being euthanized shortly after the race. Their other entrant, Foiled Again, went off as the favorite but finished fifth in the final.

Betting numbers from Molson Pace card

The richest card in Western Fair’s history produced significant action at the betting windows. A total of $325,305 was bet on the 13-race card, which easily bested last year’s Molson Pace program where $274,000 was wagered.

A great crowd was on hand to watch the stakes laden card. A total of $75,000 was bet on the Molson Pace alone, which is a record for the race which was celebrating its 38th edition.

Note that Friday night’s card is the final live card at Western Fair for the next few months. Racing will return for three days, September 13, 14 and 15 during the annual Western Fair with the fall/winter meet starting on October 15.