Driver Austin Sorrie picked up a pair of dominant victories in round one of the Autumn Series on Monday (Oct. 13) at The Raceway at Western Fair District with Islamabad and Century Moo.

The series for Ontario Sired pacing fillies who are non-winners of $10,000 lifetime as of Sept. 30 kicked off with a pair of $8,500 splits, with Islamabad crushing as the heavy favourite in the first.

Leaving from post two as the 1-5 favourite, Sorrie hustled Islamabad to the top as a loose leader though a quarter of :29.4. Sorrie tapped to the brakes to the half in 1:01 before shifting gears to three-quarters, getting Islamabad to that station in 1:29.3 with Good Pride (Sylvain Grenier) taking a peek from the pocket. 

Islamabad refused to let that rival close any ground on the far turn before powering away to a four-length victory in 1:58.2. Good Pride held for second, with Chargen Patricia (Daryl Thiessen) third, 7-1/2 lengths back of the winner.

Islamabad has won four of 18 on the year for co-owner owners Claude Thibault of St Eustache, QC and Francis Picard, who also bred the filly, of Warwick, QC. The three-year-old daughter of Stag Party-Rainbow Palace made her is now one-for-own in the barn of Gerard Demers. Islamabad paid $2.50 to win.

Sorrie teamed up with the Rene Bourassa trained Century Moo in the second split, winning as the 7-2 second choice in similar fashion.

Leaving from post five, Century Moo got away second off the wings behind Nolas Bet (Daryl Thiessen) initially, but Sorrie was intent on getting his filly to the top and brushed to the lead through a quarter of :29. Once clear, Century Moo raced to the half in 1:00 while taking pressure from Heads Carolina (Garrett Rooney) on the way to three-quarters in 1:28.4. 

Sorrie kicked out the plugs moving into the last turn, with Century Moo responding by opening up by 3-1/2 lengths in the stretch to win in 1:59.1. Nolas Bet get the better of Heads Carolina for the place position.

Bourassa of Fergus, ON also co-owns the winning two-year-old daughter of Cattlewash-Beach Sports with Les Ecuries Marc Gelinas of St Narcisse, QC and Giles Caouette of Sudbury, ON. Century Moo has now won three of five this season.

To view Monday's harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Western Fair Raceway.

(Standardbred Canada)