Trainer/driver Zach Mullins' veteran pacer Sea Laird wore down the streaking sophomore Captain Tate in the afternoon's featured Winners Over Handicap Pace during Inverness Raceway's "Hope Starts Here" race day on Sunday, Sept. 13.

Seeking his ninth straight victory and fourth in the $2,000 top class, 1-9 favourite Captain Tate (Walter Walker) worked his way to the lead from the outside over McLand (Redmond Doucet) into a 30-second opening panel and raced on to the half in :58.1 and three-quarters in 1:28.3, with Sea Laird chasing overland for Mullins down the backstretch the final time while Eastcoast Invader (Monica Sutherland) trailed the compact field of four. Captain Tate held onto the lead turning for home but Sea Laird found more in the lane and surged ahead at the end for the 1:57.2 triumph by one length. 

Stepping back to the Winners Over for his third straight win and sixth victory of the season in 17 starts, Sea Laird paid $11.60 for the 9-2 upset. The 10-year-old pacer is locally owned by Mullins and Doug Lowthers. A gelded son of Custard The Dragon-Devil Likes It Hot, he now boasts 42 career victories and more than $308,000 in earnings.

The featured finale on Sunday afternoon was held in honour of oncology patient Katie Miller as part of the day's "Hope Starts Here" fundraising event for the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital Foundation. The fundraising activities included a 50/50 raffle in support of local cancer patients.

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

(Standardbred Canada)