Despite being sent postward as the longest shot on the board at odds of 15-1, Strikes And Charges fought off all challengers down the lane to win the $8,500 Open Pace at Alberta Downs on Sunday afternoon.
Driver Travis Cullen sent the seven-year-old With Held gelding to the front from post five and led the field, which was scratched down to six, through fractions of :27.2, :57.3 and 1:25.4. The longshot was confronted at the third quarter station by the pocket-pulling Smooth Criminal, driven by Bill Tainsh Jr., and then the second over No Fear and Brandon Campbell in the stretch, but held on for the quarter-length victory in 1:53.2.
Strikes N Charges paid $33.10 for the victory with favourite No Fear second in the win photo. Second choice Trust The Artist finished one and a half lengths behind in third in rein to Kelly Hoerdt.
Sherwood Park's Darren Lupul trains, owns and bred the 12-time winner, who has banked $84,381 in purses throughout his career. The victory was his second in eight seasonal starts.
Cullen also drove his trainee Da Terror to a 1:55.4 career-best victory during the card, pushing the four-year-old Western Terror gelding's undefeated win streak this season to five.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Alberta Downs.