The Machster and driver Steve Skilton used off-the-pace tactics, and last-second heroics, to pull off a 6-1 upset in Thursday’s $12,000 Preferred Pace

at Kawartha Downs.

Squaring off with seven foes in the featured tilt of the day, The Machster floated off the gate and dropped into an early three-hole while One False Move and Cigar Hall battled to the quarter pole in :26.1. Cigar Hall eventually backed into the two-hole after parked to the opening panel, and that left One False Move with a two-length lead at the mid-way point in :54.2.

One False Move was confronted in the third quarter by The Machster, who was within a quarter of a length of the leader at the three-quarter pole in 1:23. One False Move had little left for the lane after putting up those big fractions, and as a result The Machster was able to edge by in the late going. A :30.3 final quarter was good enough for The Machster to hold off a late-rushing Dark Prince by a quarter of a length in a time of 1:53.3. One False Move faded to finish third.

The Carwin Stables’ homebred picked up his third in his last four outings for trainer Dennis Caruana, who watched the five-year-old son of Mach Three-Hi Ho Hilda improve this year’s record to 3-3-0 in 20 tries. The lion’s share of the purse bumped the pacer’s lifetime earnings to $112,961.

To view results for Thursday's card of harness racing, click the following link: Thursday Results – Kawartha Downs.