Trainer D.F. Beaton's Shir Gain pulled off the upset as the longest shot on the board in this week's Winners Over Handicap Pace at Inverness Raceway, getting to the front late and holding off 1-9 young gun Captain Tate.

Shir Gain and driver Rodney Gilles bided their time in the pocket behind the usual pacesetter McLand (Danny Gillis) -- both inside also eligible starters were in for a claiming tag of $9,000. After following the leader through panels of :30.1, 1:00.1 and 1:29, Shir Gain slipped out in front of the stalled Sea Laird (Zach Mullins) first-up and took a late lead en route to the 14-1 upset in 1:59.1. The favoured sophomore colt, Captain Tate (Walter Walker), a dead-heat top-class winner last week with Sea Laird, found clearance from the backfield too late towards the pylons and finished a length behind Shir Gain in this week's $2,285 feature, edging out Philthy Phil (Redmond Doucet) and McLand in a photo for place.

Overlooked at the betting windows after a first-over journey landed him just a quarter-length behind last week's top pair, Shir Gain rewarded his backers with a $31.70 payout for every $2 win ticket.

Shir Gain, an eight-year-old gelding by Blue Burner out of Shirley Hall, has won six of his 23 races this year and now boasts 25 career victories with $92,296 in earnings.

Sunday's seven-race program started with a new driver in the winner's circle... twice. Allan Fraser earned his first two career driving wins with a sweep of the afternoon's opening races in rein to his trainees, sophomore pacing filly Luna Bets ($11.50) and veteran gelding Old Buck ($9.50). 

Fraser sent his first winner, Luna Bets, first-up from third approaching the half and scored in 2:05.4 by 2-1/4-lengths, with Miss Chili Pepper (Keigan Madden) tracking in second and the popular pacesetter, J W Flatout (Redmond Doucet), settling for third.

Fraser won his very next drive with 13-year-old pacer Old Buck, prevailing in a backstretch battle between the co-favourites, Elm Grove Support (Rodney Gillis) and Rankinville Shamis (Sandy MacNeil). Old Buck had given the 55-year-old Inverness, N.S. horseman his first training tally back on Aug. 5, with Monica Sutherland driving for that milestone moment, and the pacer completed his first driving double on Sunday winning in 2:04 by a quarter-length.

Fraser, who now has a two-for-15 rookie driving record, co-owns both of his winners with Lisa Hanscombe of Inverness, N.S.

The 100th anniversary season of live harness racing at Inverness Raceway will wrap up next Sunday, Oct. 25.

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

(Standardbred Canada)