Trainer Yannick Martel's trotter Mystic and driver Marie-Claude Auger pulled off a 10-1 upset defeating race leader Prince Of Sussex and favoured Paradise Moni in a photo finish in Sunday afternoon's $7,000 Preferred Handicap at Hippodrome 3R.
After landing in mid-pack while avoiding an early breaker crossing in front, Auger sent the Kadabra-Mystical Oaks gelding first-over approaching the :59.3 half-mile mark and challenged the front-striding Prince Of Sussex (Francis Picard) as they raced by three-quarters in 1:29.2. Mystic took a short lead outside of Prince Of Sussex in the final turn and battled through the stretch to keep the advantage at the wire in 2:00, with Series Quebecoises champion Paradise Moni (Denis St. Pierre) rallying off cover less than a length behind in third. Rose Run Why Not (Pascal Berube) and Soleo (Simon Delisle) rounded out the cheque-getters in a five-across finish.
Mystic has earned a quarter of his 28 lifetime victories during his eight-year-old season while pushing his bankroll $317,133.
Sent postward as the 10-1 fourth pick in the field of seven, he returned $22.10 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Hippodrome 3R.
(Standardbred Canada)