Sent at odds of 10-1, Getup Gideon rode the pocket to victory in the $7,300 Preferred 1 Pace at Century Mile on Sunday, Oct. 20.
Getup Gideon took control from post 1 moving to a :27.4 first quarter before yielding to Phanatical Maniac entering the backstretch. Real Buzz—the 2-1 favourite—tipped first over approaching a :56.2 half and rolled towards the pacesetter with Ima Dude on cover rounding the final turn. Phanatical Maniac lost the lead briefly to Real Buzz past three-quarters in 1:24.2 and faltered through the stretch while Getup Gideon found room and dashed to the front moving to the finish. Ima Dude tipped off cover to finish second by three-quarter lengths in the 1:53.2 mile with Real Buzz finishing third.
A five-year-old gelding by Blue Burner, Getup Gideon won his second race from 24 starts this season and his 10th from 90 overall, earning $153,006 for owner, trainer and breeder Rod Starkewski. He paid $21.30 to win.
Jewels Dragon nabbed victory from pacesetter Appellate in the $6,800 Preferred 2 Pace.
Away fourth through a :28.4 first quarter, Jewels Dragon drafted along the pegs as Appellate brushed to command from third passing a :56.2 half. He continued to control the pace past three-quarters in 1:25 while driver Kelly Hoerdt sent Jewels Dragon after the leader from fifth. The sophomore gelding by Custard The Dragon drew alongside Appellate late in the mile and edged to a neck victory in 1:53.3. Canadian Pharoh sat the pocket for third.
Owned by Paul Sanders and Christine Cutting, Jewels Dragon won his eighth race from 15 starts this season and his 10th from 23 overall, earning $73,738. Chris Lancaster conditions the $8.90 winner.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Mile.