Royalty Beer, Sportsline Take Western Fair Preferreds

Sportsline winning the Preferred pace finale

It was a tale of two Preferreds on Tuesday (April 29) at The Raceway at the Western Fair District as Royalty Beer delivered a front-end score as the even-money favourite in the $12,000 Preferred Trot, while Sportsline followed it up with a 10-1 pocket-rocket in the $12,000 Preferred Pace. 

After a thundershower moved through prior to the third race leading to a delay for track maintenance, the two features closed the 10-race card with the trotters taking the spotlight first on a track rated good.

Samuel Fillion had the call on Royalty Beer and wasted little time getting to the lead and grabbing command from post six through an opening quarter of :28.1. Royalty Beer remained in control of the field of seven through a half of :58.2 before beginning to open up on the way to three-quarters in 1:27.4 while Treasured Tee (Austin Sorrie) raced to the inside of Marvin Hagler (Brett MacDonald) in second.

Royalty Beer continued to open up, turning for home four lengths clear at the top of the lane. Geared down in the lane, Royalty Beer coasted home a winner in 1:58.4 while Mercutio rallied late to finish second, three parts of a length behind the winner. Marvin Hagler finished third after his sustained first-over bid.

The Ecuries Maguire Inc homebred six-year-old gelded son of Royalty For Life-Beer Maggs is co-owned by trainer Jean-Francois Maguire. A winner in seven of 12 on the year, Royalty Beer is a 25-time career winner and sports lifetime earnings of $378,987.

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