New winners emerged in the Nova Scotia Governor's Cup Series during the second leg contested on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 1 at Northside Downs.

Trainer D.F. Beaton's Shir Gain and driver Rodney Gillis sprang an 8-1 upset in the first $1,600 division with a season's best 1:58.2 effort. Defending Governors Cup Series champion No Red Rum She Wrote (Martin Bates) led the boys through fractions of :28.3, :59 and 1:28.2 while early trailer Hugh Huff (Randy Getto), the 2024 series champion, marched forward to challenge after the first quarter. Away fourth, Gillis moved Shir Gain second-over to follow the 3-2 favourite's cover and pounced on the duelling leaders with a three-wide move heading for the stretch, prevailing by three-quarters of a length over Hugh Heff while Pay Line (Ryan Campbell) edged out Red Rum She Wrote for third.

Shir Gain, who finished fourth in the opening leg of the series, recorded his seventh victory in 25 starts during his eight-year-old campaign. A $2 win bet on the Blue Burner-Shirley Hall gelding returned a payout of $18.10.

In the second split, 6-5 favourite Sea Laird, with Ryan Campbell catch-driving for trainer and co-owner Zach Mullins, turned in a season's best 1:56 victory after out-maneuvering a game rival. Leaving from the inside post, Sea Laird stretched out 8-5 second choice Aragonite (Rodney Gillis) to a :27.4 quarter before playing a game of 'follow the leader' through middle splits of :57.1 and 1:26.2. Aragonite turned for home with a two-length lead but Sea Laird reeled him in down the stretch and reached up just in time to snatch the victory by half a length. Ranked Contender (Ardon Mofford), also 8-5 on the tote board, tried it first-up from third in the middle stages of the race but finished 10 lengths behind the top pair, holding on for the show spot over Thunder Alley (Mark Pezzarello).

A runner-up to Thunder Alley in round one, Sea Laird paid $4.70 to win in leg two as the bettors' choice. Mullins owns the 10-year-old Custard The Dragon-Devil Likes It Hot gelding, who earned his eighth win in 24 starts this year, with Douglas Lowthers of Inverness, N.S. 

The $5,000 final will take place on Saturday, Nov. 7 including series point leader Sea Laird, along with Shir Gain and Thunder Alley, who tied for second place. There was a three-way tie in the point standings between the other opening leg winner Alritealritealrite along with Hugh Huff and Ranked Contender, requiring a draw to determine the remaining two finalists. That draw was held after Sunday's 11th race, with Alritealritealrite and Hugh Heff advancing to the final. A $3,000 consolation will also be held next Saturday.

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

(Standardbred Canada; photo of Sea Laird winning on Nov. 1)