Favourite Sparky Mark rushed from third to first down the backstretch and never looked back en route to victory in Saturday's featured $38,000 Preferred Pace at Woodbine Racetrack.

Driver Scott Zeron steered the five-year-old son of Astreos to the 1:50.3 triumph for trainer Mark Austin and owner-breeder Leo Thibodeau of Windsor, Ont.

Casimir Jitterbug, driven by birthday boy Doug McNair, fired off the gate from post seven and put up a :27-second opening quarter before Masters Stakes champion Sparky Mark made his winning move. He hit the half in :54.4 and raced to three-quarters in 1:22.2 before holding off the early leader by half a length for his seventh win of the season from 25 starts. Runner-up Casimir Jitterbug was followed by Mystician and Jody Jamieson, who closed off cover to show.

The winner of nearly $573,000 lifetime earned his 27th career triumph, and returned $4.20 to his backers at the pari-mutuel windows.

To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Woodbine Racetrack.