Thunder Alley and Daddys Eyes have tallied 11 wins between them since the start of the 2024 season of harness racing at Northside Downs this past May. Thus, it stands to reason that one of those pacers would prevail in the top class on Saturday, July 13 at the Cape Breton half-miler. The betting public agreed, sending off those two as the two top choices in the $1,600 Winners Over 

And as the race played out, it boiled down to those two with a slugfest coming right down to the wire.

Kiss Me Im Irish (Mark Pezzarello) used her pylon position to make the front off the gate, with favoured Daddys Eyes (Ryan Campbell) getting away in a tight second. Without a pocket behind the pacesetter available, second choice Thunder Alley (Jeremy Baker) had to either take back or drive on.

Baker chose to be forwardly placed, and asked Thunder Alley to roll down the backside for the first time and clear just before the :27.4 opening quarter. Campbell wasn't about to let Thunder Alley settle on the lead, and right-lined from third around the three-eighths mark.

The middle fractions turned into a tussle, with Thunder Alley keeping Daddys Eyes parked through panels of :58 and 1:27.1. Turning for home, the race came down to these two, with both pilots asking their respective charges to dig deep. Daddys Eyes had his eyes on the prize, and powered past in deep stretch for the 1:57.3 decision. Thunder Alley finished a solid second, with Southfield Patrick rounding out the top trio.

Owner Rachel MacDonald trains Daddys Eyes, with the nine-year-old some of Mr Brightside - Nazko Finally picking up his sixth seasonal win and 21st career tally. As the even-money choice, Daddys Eyes paid $4 to win and he lifted his lifetime earnings over the $112,000 mark in the process.

For the full results from Saturday's card of harness racing in Cape Breton, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.

(Standardbred Canada)