Paitence paid off again for Shir Gain on a delayed Sunday afternoon card at Inverness Raceway as the pacer bided his time at the back of a shortened field before swooping the group to win the featured finale for his third straight victory.

After an approximate 45-minute delay to the start of the seven-race card for track maintenance due to weather, Shir Gain got his time to shine in the featured finale.

Driver Rodney Gillis made the winning move with a quarter mile to go as 1-2 favourite Shir Gain easily swept to command and won the $2,000 Winners Over Pace by 2-3/4 lengths in 2:01.2 over a 'good' track with Sunshine Lou (Campbell MacIsaac) and Whats Up Doc (Travis MacLean) following in second and third, respectively, while Igot Socks (Monica Sutherland) completed the field that had a pair of scratches (Heave Away and Rotten Ronnie).

Gapping the gate at the start, Shir Gain watched an early tussle for the front positions from the back through a :30.4 opening quarter then moved around the the fading Igot Socks to remain in striking distance behind leading duo of Sunshine Lou and and Whats Up Doc through middle splits of 1:00.1 and 1:30.4. When given his cue on the backside, Shir Gain paced by his foes in the final turn and drew clear to record his fifth win since joining the Donald Beaton stable in late June.

A six-year-old son of Blue Burner, Shir Gain is now seven-for-25 on the year and has earned 16 wins lifetime and $74,643 in purses.

To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada; Photo of Shir Gain from a previous win)