Tyler Lopes was the dominant driver during the weekend’s harness racing at the Bermuda Equestrian Centre.

Lopes posted four victories with two different ponies and also achieved the day’s second fastest time of 1:04/2 with Arnold Manders’s gelding, Cherokee’s Ironman, which competed in the Free for All.

Cherokee’s Ironman and Lopes have been strong all season and not even a four-week break because of inclement could slow them down.

“It was good just to be on the track again,” Lopes said. “It was a little windy and rainy. But despite the weather it was a good night of racing.”

Cherokee’s Ironman showed little or no signs of rust from the break.

“The trainers did a good job keeping him going,” Lopes said. “It’s important to make sure you’re training properly [during the break] and make sure the horses are ready to run again.

“You need to make sure they do not lose a lot of fitness because it’s easy to slack off and not stay motivated.”

Cherokee’s Ironman has all but qualified for the season-ending Champion of Champions having equalled the fastest time of 1:03/3 during the Boxing Day Stakes Races.

“I can’t ask for him to be any better than he has been,” Lopes said. “Hopefully he keeps his form.

“The Free for All horses are all pretty much in because they have all done exceptional times this year.

“Just like the stakes races it’s going to be a very interesting Champion of Champions.”

Full Throttle Racing’s mare, IC’s Shakedown, was the first pony to run a 1:03/3 this season having also done so during the Boxing Day Stakes Races before Cherokee’s Ironman equalled the mark.

Colin Mello’s retired stallion, Big Red Machine, holds the track record of 1:01/4 achieved in 2011.

Meanwhile, also impressing at Vesey Street were Christian Truran and Cameron Harris, the only other multiple heat winners with two wins apiece.

Truran swept both heats in the 1:07/2 — 1:09/2 division with Inwood Stables’ filly, Inwood’s Progress, while Harris won both heats in the 1:05 — 1:06 division with J & A Peniston’s five-year-old mare, Just Watch Me.

Top female driver Andrea Westerfield posted the day’s fastest time of 1:04/1 competing in the Free for All with Roque Family’s stallion, GV Crystal Ball.

Philip Correia achieved the day’s third fastest time after running a 1:04/4 competing in the Free for All with Full Throttle Racing’s mare, Pocket de Gold.

There were no ponies getting legs out or advancing from their respective time bars.

Harness racing continues at Vesey Street on Sunday. The post time is 12pm.