Ima Fist Fight upset at 32-1 in the $30,000 Elizabeth Johnson Memorial, and Hes Still Watching weaved through traffic to capture the $45,000 Ron Orr Pace in the finals for four-year-old pacers on Sunday, Sept. 14 at The Track On 2.

Ima Fist Fight, an also eligible, drew into post five in the Elizabeth Johnson Memorial for mares after a scratch, and Nathan Sobey commanded early speed from the mare to land a pocket spot behind elimination winner Frostfire (Logan Gillis). Frostfire passed the first three stations in :28, :56.4, and 1:25 on an unchecked lead and was set down for the drive as Ima Fist Fight peeled off the cones at the top of the lane. Ima Fist Fight gradually worked past the pacesetter, and she was home in time to hold off the closing favourite Poker Queen (Phil Giesbrecht) by a quarter-length in 1:53. Captive Mind (Brandon Campbell) rallied for third.

The win for Ima Fist Fight was her first since July after a string of top-three finishes in the Track On 2 claiming ranks leading up to a fifth-place effort in her elimination for this event. Campbell conditions the mare he bred, who is five-for-26 this year. The daughter of Betterthancheddar-Easterpromise has now amassed 11 wins and $79,205 in bankroll in 45 lifetime outings for owners Jodi Loftus and Raymond Henry of Calgary, Alta. She returned $66 to win.

After training the Johnson Memorial winner, Campbell orchestrated an off-the-pace victory at the lines of Hes Still Watching in the Ron Orr Pace for horses and geldings. He had the gelding situated sixth, well behind the feverish battling up front as Jingle Inmy Pocket (Dave Kelly) led to the quarter in :27 before Titanic Hanover (Jean-Francois Gagne) took over approaching the half in :54.2 and threw down with the pressing Outlaw Game On (Mike Hennessy) to three-quarters in 1:23.3.

Campbell kept Hes Still Watching on the pylons through the final turn and aimed for a seam between Titanic Hanover and Outlaw Game On. Hes Still Watching briefly broke stride but resumed pacing, shot through that gap, and out-kicked fellow closer Kiss My Bet (Gillis) to prevail by three-quarters of a length in a lifetime-best 1:53. Outlaw Game On finished third.

The Lance Ward-trained Hes Still Watching won for the fourth time in 34 career starts and increased his earnings to $65,547. The son of Hes Watching-Too Hot To Handle, owned by Owen Peynado Jr. of Sherwood Park, Alta., is two-for-14 this year. He paid $15 at the mutuels.

Earlier on the card, The Great Shark broke the two-year-old pacing record at the Lacombe, Alta. oval. After sitting the pocket for Kelly through :28.3 and :57.3 first-half fractions, the 1-9 favourite launched to the outside nearing three-quarters in 1:27.2, motored to the front, and cruised home a 1-3/4-length winner in 1:54.3. Mayhem N Madness (Jamie Gray) finished fast for second, followed by Gotchabythetoga (Campbell).

The 1:54.3 mile lowered the previous record for a rookie pacing gelding of 1:55.1 set by G Ts Jukebox Jack last season. It also rewrote the overall two-year-old standard, displacing the 1:55 effort by filly Im Outrageous Too from 2023.

The Great Shark tallied his second straight win for trainer Brinsley Brooking-Lutz. The son of Smart Shark-Great Desire is a homebred for Michelle Danroth of Lumby, B.C., who co-owns him with Brent Grundy of Edmonton, Alta. The gelding has earned $9,629 with two wins in five attempts. He paid $2.10.

To view Sunday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - The Track On 2.

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Ima Fist Fight winning on Sept. 14)