At odds of 46-1, Kinda Like Royalty and driver Travis Henry, guiding Westwardho Hanover, opened the evening's proceedings spectacularly at The Raceway at Western Fair District with a resounding triumph.
The five-year-old mare initially found herself in a difficult position, trailing the seven-horse field. Early on, Watching Her Fly, steered by Bradley Harris, and One Last Bet, under Tyler Borth's command, engaged in a fierce battle for the lead, clocking an opening quarter of 27.2. One Last Bet, positioned on the outer lane, sought respite when the opportunity arose.
Travis Cullen's Ultimate Long Shot surged ahead by the halfway point, recording a time of 57.0. It wasn't until the final stretch that Kinda Like Royalty chose to assert herself, methodically overtaking her rivals one by one. Not until the three-quarter mark did she mount a serious challenge for the lead. With a remarkable 30.2-second final quarter, Kinda Like Royalty surged past Ultimate Long Shot, crossing the finish line in 1:58.0.
Ultimate Long Shot secured second place, while Watch Her Fly settled for third.
This victory marked Kinda Like Royalty's first win of the year and her first since October 29th. The mare, hailing from Prince Edward Island, is under the tutelage of trainer Dennis Belan, who also earned his inaugural win of the year.
Travis Henry clinched another win later in the evening's eighth race with Laila Blue, sired by Art Major.
Among the drivers, Garrett Rooney emerged as the only other participant to secure two victories during the eventful ten-race card.