Kashs Caviar pulled off a mild 8-1 upset in winning Flamboro Downs' featured $6,500 Preferred 3 Trot off the claim for trainer and co-owner Craig Yates on a frigid Thursday evening.
With Robert Shepherd catch-driving, Kashs Caviar braved temperatures of 18 degrees below zero as he trotted off to a 2:01.1 victory over the 'good' track rated three seconds slow.
Favourite Lakefield and Trevor Henry worked their way to the front of the eight-horse field into a :29-second opening quarter and proceeded to lead to the half in 1:00 flat. But Shepherd made his move aboard Kashs Caviar from sixth at the midway mark and took over command down the backstretch, reaching three-quarters in 1:30.3. The 8-1 fourth choice then drew off to win by more than four lengths in 2:01.1.
Kashs Caviar paid $18.20 to win. Lakefield faded to fourth behind the late-charging Euro Classic (Per Henriksen) and Chewey (Bob McClure).
The seven-year-old SJs Caviar gelding was claimed for $15,000 in his last start on Dec. 19 at Woodbine Racetrack by the Paris, Ont. based Yates and Marilyn Horner of Aurora, Ont. The 2011 Frank Ryan champion earned his 17th career win and lifted his bankroll to $411,072.
Shepherd also won the following race with Bud Sinclair's four-year-old pacer Phil Your Boots ($5.90) to sweep the late Daily Double.
To view Thursday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Thursday Results - Flamboro Downs.