There were some new sophomores in the winner's circle during the second round of the Autumn Series on Friday night at Woodbine Racetrack.
The first of three $15,000 trotting divisions went to 7-1 fourth choice Tequila Haze ($16.40), who converted off a pocket trip to prevail in 1:57.2 by two and a half lengths over first over challenger Oaklea Wyatt (Daniel Potvin), with Theresademoninme (Chris Christoforou) taking third prize ahead of pacesetter Class Me Nice (Sylvain Filion). Sitting behind the Muscle Mass gelding for the first time, Bob McClure drove the winner of five races in 23 starts and $44,142 for trainer Keith Jones and owner Douglas McCarthy of Holland Landing, Ont.
Rebounding off a break in stride in the opening leg of the series, Deweykeepumnwhy ($85.30) was coaxed to his first victory of the year by catch-driver Roger Mayotte in the second division, pulling off a 41-1 surprise. The Ben Wallace trainee rallied off the cover of 92-1 longshot Massive Muscles (Jean Bernard Renaud) in the stretch to win by three-quarters of a length over that rival in 1:58.1. The front-stepping favourite Totally Ripped (Steve Byron) finished third. The Deweycheatumnhowe gelding was making his fourth start of the year for owner Norah Parks of New Lowell, Ont. and his first paycheque pushed his career bankroll over the $100,000 mark.
Stonebridge Rich also posted an upset victory off a second over trip, following favourite and eventual third-place finisher Warrawee Prince (Sylvain Filion) before kicking home for the 1:56.4 triumph as the longest shot on the board at odds of 28-1. Late-closer Utopia (Jonathan Drury), sent postward at 26-1, finished three and three-quarter lengths behind in the winner in second. Anthony MacDonald trains and drives the Angus Hall gelding, who has won six of his 20 starts this year while earning $46,760 for Allard Racing Inc. Saint-Esprit, Que.
Outsider So Good Im Bad ($86.70) got up in time to win the lone $15,000 pacing division at long odds of 42-1, rallying from last to edge out 31-1 shot The Optimist (Jack Moiseyev) for the narrow victory in 1:53. Early speedster Bugger Bruiser (Anthony MacDonald) finished less than a length behind in third. The homebred Badlands Hanover gelding is owned by trainer/driver Joseph Hudon Jr. and Karen Hudon of Acton, Ont. The win was just his second in 13 starts this year and bumped his seasonal earnings to $37,040.
To view Friday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.