Zip Car turned in a near gate-to-wire performance in the $8,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred 3 Pace at The Raceway at the Western Fair District as she zipped around the London, Ont. oval on Wednesday, Jan. 20 in rein to Scott Coulter.

Inside starter Zip Car motored around the quick-leaving Miss Brandi K (Paul MacKenzie) during a :28.3 opening panel and held off first over attacker, Emerald Rihanna (Nick Steward), through middle splits of :59.1 and 1:28.1. The backfield began to spread out across the track turning into the stretch as well, but no one could catch Zip Car as she powered home for the one and a quarter-length victory in 1:58. Miss Brandi K stayed for second while Emerald Rihanna, who was two-for-two to start the year, finished third.

Zip Car was the 3-2 slight second choice to favoure Insincerity, who finished sixth despite her late, wide rally from the backfield. Zip Car paid $5.10 to win.

Heather Toll trains and co-owns the six-year-old Royal Mattjesty mare with Mark Beaven of Seaforth, Ont. The win was Zip Car’s first in two starts this year and and her 15th lifetime, bumping her bankroll to $119,398.

(Standardbred Canada)