Fillion catches fire for five

Harness racing driver Samuel Fillion stayed hot with a five-win performance on Monday (Jan. 27) while not missing a cheque in nine drives on the card at The Raceway at the Western Fair District.

His evening was highlighted by a dominant Preferred Trot victory with Royalty Beer (Royalty For Life). The six-year-old cut :28.1, 1:00, and 1:29.4 fractions on the front and created a cushion down the backstretch before coasting to a two-and-a-half-length score in 2:00.2. Treasured Tee (Travis Henry) finished second, followed by Marvin Hagler (Austin Sorrie).

ROYALTY BEER REPLAY

Royalty Beer is undefeated in four starts this season since returning to Canada from Yonkers Raceway in January. The gelding, a former Quebec champion, is 22-for-77 lifetime with $344,227 in earnings. He is a homebred for Ecuries Maguire Inc. and is trained by Jean-Francois Maguire.

Fillion fired immediately, going wire-to-wire in the opener with Shesundertheradar (Tactical Landing) by two-and-three-quarter lengths in 2:01.3. It was the five-year-old mare’s sixth career win.

SHESUNDERTHERADAR REPLAY

The reinsman returned to the winner’s circle in race four after a late-charging performance by St Lads Mischief (Sportswriter). The stallion joined the leaders three-wide on the final turn and went toe-to-toe with pacesetter Debs New Man (Paul Mackenzie) down the stretch, battling to a neck victory in 2:05.

ST LADS MISCHIEF REPLAY

Fillion reversed his tactics in race five, sending Run Like Hill (Muscle Hill) on a speed mission. The gelding held off the first-over The Great Reset (Lorne House) by a neck to prevail in 2:01.4.

RUN LIKE HILL REPLAY

The driver completed his five-win performance in the finale as Coming Fashion (Crescent Fashion) streaked eight lengths clear down the lane for a 2:01.4 win. The Pam Forgie-trained gelding was claimed in the victory by Randall Fulmer and Phillip Katcher.

COMING FASHION REPLAY

Fillion has been sharp to start the season with 32 wins in 145 starts, a rate of 22.1 per cent. The driver broke out last year, crushing his personal bests in wins and earnings. Since his 2016 debut, he has won 838 races and has recorded $5.4 million in earnings.

The Raceway at the Western Fair District continues racing on Tuesday, Jan. 28 at 5:50 p.m. EST.

For complete race results, click here.

by Nicholas Barnsdale, for Harnesslink