Whiskey Pete, a graduate of the New York Sires Stakes program, celebrated the biggest payday of his career on Sunday afternoon at Harrah’s Chester Racetrack thanks to his victory in the $70,000 Open Pace

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And it turned out to be a race in which Whiskey Pete needed every inch of the racetrack to post the victory for the duo of driver Brian Sears and trainer Nat Varty.

Sears got away fourth with the four-year-old son of Art Major-Cheryls Western, and the pair stayed there until past the mid-way point. Drop Red led the field to the quarter pole in :27.1, but race favourite Foiled Again was on the move as the field passed in front of the grandstand for the first time. Foiled Again cleared and proceeded to lead the group of eight to the half in :55.2.

Sears angled Whiskey Pete to the outside shortly past the mid-way point and together they applied heavy pressure to Foiled Again, who was still on the lead by a one-length margin at the three-quarter pole in 1:23.1. A :26.4 kicker by Whiskey Pete proved to be just enough to earn him the mild upset score by three-quarters of a length over Foiled Again in 1:50.1. Vintage Master rounded out the top three finishers.

Ted Gewertz of New York, NY owns the 14-time winner, who now boasts a 7-5-2 record from 16 trips postward this season. The pacer has banked more than $178,000 this year and more than $344,000 to date.