In a shocker, an Ontario-owned 211-1 shot upset the apple cart by polishing off 1-9 favourite Powerful Mist in one of two $100,000 Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund (DSBF) Two-Year-Old Colt and Gelding Finals

on a cold and windy Sunday at Dover Downs.

With only win wagering because of the outstanding success of Powerful Mist, the colt was an overwhelming favourite in his $100,000 finals, but Conartist Hanover pulled a mammoth surprise scoring a 1:56.4 victory.

When the horse straightened out on the backstretch driver Eric Goodell got the Badlands Hanover-Condo Queen freshman going overcoming several quick missteps before firing up on the extreme outside to join a foursome of challengers attacking the front-pacing 1-9 Powerful Mist. On the final turn, the leader Powerful Mist was shortening strides as rivals began to rush past.

In the lane, Goodell urged Conartist Hanover on to get up for his third win of the year for trainer Josh Green and owners Baron Racing Stable and Glenview Livestock of Ontario. Princely Asset, handled by Roger Plante, took second with Powerful Odds and John Wagner third. Powerful Mist finished fifth.

“At the half, I was hoping just to get fifth,” exclaimed winning driver Goodell. “I finally got him settled on the backstretch and then he kept on coming.”

Jim Morand, Powerful Mist’s regular driver, could give little reason for his colt’s sub-par effort. “I really don’t know, he must have been sick or something,” he remarked.

All Clear survived an inquiry to win the $100,000 trot by a head in 2:03. The CR Commando-Partial Clearing colt had posted the fastest winning time for a trotter in the two legs of preliminaries scoring a 2:00.2 victory last week. Owner, trainer, driver Carlo Poliseno was not fazed waiting for the judges to make the race official. “True, he made a misstep but got right back on the trot,” Poliseno said.

Lightly raced Warrhawk One turned in a gallant trip to finish a close second. Starting from post 1, driver Vic Kirby got his gelding away cautiously and was quickly last in the eight-horse field before beginning working up on the outside heading to the half. Obey The Command came on for Brad Hanners to take third money.

In a $20,000 DSBF consolation for two-year-olds, Lucky Land cruised to a 1:57.1 victory in a colt and gelding pace. Ben Stafford Jr. drove the Badlands Hanover-Mademoiselle gelding to his fifth win of year for his father, Ben Stafford, who train the now winner of $46,740. Seboomook Boomer (Jim Morand) was runner-up. Truth Roles (Tim Tetrick) finished third.

Eddie Davis Jr. steered Its All Good Jack (Hobokenbahamamamas-Samcoe Luv) to a 2:05.2 score, his first lifetime win, in the DSBF consolation trot. Debate (John Wagner) rallied for second in front of Go Jojo Go (Walter Callahan).

Corey Callahan and George Dennis drove two winners each while Eddie Dennis trained a pair of winners.

A $35,000 Preferred, $32,500 Delaware Special and $27,000 Open paces headline a powerhouse Monday card of harness racing.

(Dover Downs)