Apple pie and ice cream. Hot dogs and mustard. Blacky Black and Barry Bates.

Bates purchased five-year-old gelding Blacky Black at the end of July and since then they've been a match made in harness racing heaven. As a four-year-old, Blacky Black had one win in 24 starts. He was winless in 11 starts as a five-year-old, when Bates took over the training.

The transformation has been startling.

On Saturday (Oct. 19) at Northside Downs, Blacky Black overcame the outside post handicap in the $1,500 Winners Over Pace and prevailed after a first-over attack on pacesetter Wildcat Jet (Mark Pezzarello) to win by three-parts of a length in 1:59.2, holding off second-over challenger Elm Grove Ladyluck (Ryan Campbell).

Making his tenth start for Bates, Blacky Black (The Panderosa - Black Brinny) now boasts an overall summary of 8-1-0 in those outings. Bates is also enjoying personal best season as a trainer and driver, bolstered largely by the exploits of his prized pupil.

To view the charts for the Saturday card at Northside, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.