The class-jumping Appellate ($11.00) shrugged off his 4-1 post time odds on Sunday (May 6) at Century Downs and went on to post a one-length, 1:53.3 victory for trainer/driver Kelly Hoerdt in the $9,000 Open Pace.
After having started from Post 2 in Race 1, Appellate got away third, seven lengths off the tempo, as the quarter was cut in :28.3 over the ‘fast’ track.
The five-year-old was up and racing first over by the time the half-mile clock (:57.3) flashed to life. The Western Terror bay was still overland and grinding – just a half-length in arrears – by the time Chalk Player (driven by Jamie Gray) passed the three quarters marker (1:24.4).
Continuing his press all the home, Appellate persevered through the lane and eventually recorded the one-length victory.
Appellate, pictured victorious in Century Downs’ Open Pace on Sunday, May 6, 2018 (Anett Meszaros / Coady Photo)
Sabine Pass (Paul Davies) closed hard from fifth to finish second. Cool Cowboy (Jim Marino) finished fifth after a two-hole ride.
Hoerdt (of Beamont, AB) trains Appellate for his partner Peter Giannakopoulos (Edmonton, AB).
Century’s second race was marred by an accident, as the Jim Marino-driven Sooters Blues fell to the track and did not finish, while the Nathan Sobey-driven Northern Titan was pulled up. The accident occurred in the third quarter of the race. Marino was taken to hospital with a possible knee injury and a cut to his chin. Sobey continued to drive the rest of the card.
Trot Insider wil update this story with more information when it becomes available.
To view the harness racing results for Sunday at Century, click the following link: Sunday Results – Century Downs.