With heavy favourite Need To Breathe drifting off the pylons down the stretch, the pocket pursuer Western Wish slipped through for the biggest upset of the night in the $32,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace on Friday, Jan. 20 at Woodbine Mohawk Park.

Driver Austin Sorrie hustled 16-1 shot Western Wish off the wings of the gate from post five to take the early lead before 2-5 favourite Need To Breathe and Travis Cullen swept to command through a :27.4 opening quarter. Looking for her fourth straight win against Preferred company, Need To Breathe continued to lead the way through splits of :57.3 and 1:25.3 but Western Wish was hot on her heels and stole the show as she sprinted through a clear path at the inside down the stretch to score by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:53.1. Dabarndawgswatchin, the 2-1 second choice off a pair of runner-up finishes behind Need To Breathe, launched from third midway through the final turn for Louis-Philippe Roy and held on to show.

Moving up in class off back-to-back top-three finishes to start the season, Western Wish returned $34.40 for the upset win.

Carmen Auciello trains the five-year-old Betterthancheddar-Giannas Ideal mare, who won seven races and more than $130,000 last year for owners Aaron Waxman of Carlisle, Ont., Santo Vena of Cedar Valley, Ont., and Nunzio Vena of Bolton, Ont. 

Winning for the 18th time in her career, Western Wish boosted her bankroll to $337,479.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.