The opening leg of the Alliance Series for condition claimers on the pace went postward in the form of four divisions during Monday’s 10-race card at The Raceway at Western Fair District, and it wasn’t a very good night for the favourites.
Ziggy Zoom pulled off the biggest upset thanks to his 25-1 stunner for the tandem of driver Nick Steward and trainer Gord McDonnell. The three-year-old son of Mach Three-So Cute Hanover rallied from third-over to win by 2-1/4 lengths over race favourite Now What Hanover in 1:59.4. Third prize went to Jimmy Wintips.
McDonnell shares ownership on the gelding with Vince Orlando and Sherry Murray. It was the fifth win of the season for the career winner of $21,861.
Matts Tuition battled every step of the way with race favourite Abbeydorney, and he managed to fend off that foe while pulling off the 6-1 upset for Team Shepherd. Robert Shepherd guided the Patrick Shepherd trainee to the win by 1-1/2 lengths over Abbeydorney in 1:59.1. Taking home the show dough was St Lads Sailor.
The three-year-old son of Articulator-Pictonian Flyer improved this year’s record to 5-8-4 from 31 starts with the victory. The career winner of $26,781 is owned by Stephen Morton of Windsor, NS.
Prince Adiran was a front-stepping winner in his $6,000 division for the duo of driver Lorne House and trainer Bill Budd. Sent off at odds of 4-1, the gelding quarter pole-moved to the lead and never looked back once he secured the top spot. He cruised home to win by 1-1/4 lengths over Apocolyps Seelster in 2:00.2. Taking home the show dough was Phone In.
The four-year-old son of Village Jove-Princess Banyan, who is owned by Jim Wilson of Melancthon, Ont., won for the fifth time this season. He’s banked more than $28,000 to date.
Lyons William was the only favourite to deliver, and he did so at odds of 1-2 for driver J Harris and trainer Bruce Goit. Harris hustled his charge three-wide going to the three-quarter pole and the colt blew them away in the late stages of the mile. He powered away to the win by 5-1/4 lengths over Bearly A Secret in 1:58. The Kernal rounded out the Trifecta ticket.
Geoffrey Lyons Mound of Brantford, Ont. owns the three-year-old son of Big Jim-Go For Best. After an 0-for-4 rookie season he’s managed to put together a 4-1-2 record from 11 starts this year. The lion’s share of the loot lifted his earnings to $24,040.
Sure Please wrapped up the card with a 2:04.1 triumph in the $8,900 Preferred 3 for horse and gelding pacers. Ryan Holliday mapped out a two-hole trip for his charge in the 1-1/16 miles affair before popping out late and drawing clear to win by a length over Master Smile. Rallying for third prize was Jake Parrish.
Dave Holliday trains the six-year-old son of Million Dollar Cam-Shirley For Sure for partners Caroline Holliday, Dennis Hannath and Peter Emann. It was the fifth triumph of the year and the seventh to date for the career winner of $48,257.
To view results for Monday’s card of harness racing, click the following link: Monday Results – The Raceway at Western Fair District.