First Cast came with a late flurry off a three-hole trip to land a 9-1 upset in the $16,000 Pop-Up Series Final at Woodbine Mohawk Park on Thursday, Aug. 21.

She shot through at the pylons from an inside start to secure a seat in third for Scott Young while Solidazabrickhouse (Trevor Henry) crossed over from post seven to lead to the quarter in :27 and half in :56.4. On the final turn, First Cast flushed out favourite Pretty Missy May (Louis-Philippe Roy), who popped the pocket and went nose-to-nose with Solidazabrickhouse through three-quarters in 1:26.

First Cast followed Pretty Missy May into the stretch as that opponent rolled by the pacesetter and kicked clear at the top of the lane. First Cast was dogged in her pursuit though, and she found another gear in the last 1/16th of a mile to surge past Pretty Missy May for the victory by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:54.2. Dollydaydream (Tyler Borth) completed the triactor.

First Cast scored the victory in the final after finishing sixth in the first preliminary leg and third in the second round. She is now two-for-10 this year for trainer David Holliday, who co-owns the mare with Ben Holliday of Mount Forest, Ont. The four-year-old daughter of Stag Party-Mach The Cut has won six of 34 career outings and earned $53,700. She paid $21.80 to win.

The series was for $8,000 claiming fillies and mares that were non-winners of $5,000 in their previous five starts. Entrants were required to start in two preliminary legs to qualify for the final.

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

(Standardbred Canada)