The top horses in the Mark Austin Pacing Series are on a collision course in the second leg and the final after they each drew separate races in the first leg.
Township Willy wasn’t pushed to the limits after he cruised to a five and three quarter lengths win in the opening division on Sunday afternoon.
Driver Tyler Borth went right to the front with the three-year-old Sportswriter colt and stepped off easy fractions of 29.3, 1:00.2, 1:30.2 to a final time of 2:00 flat.
Township Willy is owned by Morris and Stanley Zipkin while Rene Dion is the conditioner.
Denmark Seelster finished second for Chris Johnston while Stonebridge Presto and Greg Drew paid on the show ticket.
Toxic Hanover and Borth cruised to an easy eight and a half length win in the second division.
The three-year-old Somebeachsomewhere colt was eased off the gate and through the first turn before vaulting to the front at the quarter and rolling to fractions of 29.3, 59.3, 1:29.4 and a new lifetime mark of 1:58.3.
Jack Darling is the owner and trainer of Toxic Hanover.
Donovan Z Tam and Marc St Louis finished second while Origami Seelster and Nick Steward was third.
The final division saw Donnie Rankin Jr. and Racebytheseaside sit patiently by as Kid Genius and Major Artattack engage in a speed battle on the front end in fractions of 27.2, 59, and 1:30.1. The veteran teamster then tipped the three-year-old Somebeachsomewhere colt three wide down the lane and coasted to a three length win.
Kid Genius and Steward finished second while Major Artattack and St Louis were third.
The second leg of the Austin Series will go next week.
Tyler Borth ended the day with five wins to lead the driver’s standings at Dresden Raceway with wins 14 while Gene Piroski guided Terra Cotta Lad to victory in the Gateway Casino Pace for his first driving win since 2012.
The handle on Sunday at Dresden Raceway was $33,638 thanks to a crowd of almost 800 people.
