Stiletto Hall Trumps Open Rivals
Trained and driven to victory by Serge Masse, Stiletto Hall pulled off a mild 4-1 upset in the featured $12,000 Open Pace at Fraser Downs on Saturday night
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Lilsharkshooter (Scott Knight) was the quickest off the gate as he secured the early lead before the first quarter in :28. At that point, El Rancho Relaxo (Keith Clark) popped the pocket and made a brief appearance on the front end before track record holder Kiawah (David Hudon) kicked into action from third and bypassed his rivals en route to the half in :56.2.
Kiawah, the 4-5 favourite, motored past three-quarters in 1:23.4 but could not hold off the late closers in the stretch. Stiletto Hall, who moved first-up from fourth at three-quarters, used a :28-second final frame to win in 1:52.1 by half a length. El Rancho Relaxo and Lilsharkshooter came back on to place and show.
Stiletto Hall, a seven-year-old son of Blissful Hall, scored his ninth win of the season pushing his earnings to $57,000. The gelding’s 25th victory lifted his career earnings to over $130,000 for the Don M JR Stables and the Don Byrne Stables 2008 Inc. of Edmonton, Alta.
Click here to view the charted lines from Saturday.