Big Boy Hill made it two straight series victories as he climbed to the front in the final quarter-mile to capture the $4,000 Harvest Series Final on Monday, Oct. 13 at Northside Downs.
Redmond Doucet got Big Boy Hill away third in the six-horse field, which proceeded in program order to the quarter in :29.4. Action kicked off nearing the second turn as Big Boy Hill shifted out, prompting a pocket pop and first-up grind from favourite Ranked Contender (Ardon Mofford) to pressure leader Keeperoftherealm (Ryan Campbell) past the half in :59.3.
After sitting second-over, Big Boy Hill joined the battling leaders three-wide to three-quarters in 1:29.3, and as Keeperoftherealm bowed out, Big Boy Hill and Ranked Contender threw down coming into the stretch. Both horses were full-out to the line, but Big Boy Hill got up with a final surge to win by a half-length in 1:59. D A Playersdelight (Angus Bates) was third.
Big Boy Hill, who won the Celtic Financial Series last month, is now four-for-19 this year. The eight-year-old son of Bettors Delight-Pretty Katherine is owned and trained by Joe Nearing of Howie Center, N.S. The gelding has won 29 times in 145 career starts and has earned $100,510. He returned $7 to win.
The $2,000 Harvest Series Consolation went to Elm Grove Penelope ($4.80), who went gate-to-wire in 2:01 for driver Ryan Campbell and trainer Steven Lewis.
Dontblvmejustwatch eclipsed Red Rum She Wrote in the final strides to take the $1,700 Winners Over Pace. Pocketed-up through :27.1 and :56.4 splits, Ryan Campbell moved Dontblvmejustwatch out as the first-over Red Rum She Wrote (Angus Bates) put away early pacesetter Kiss Me Im Irish (Mark Pezzarello) nearing three-quarters in 1:26.4. Dontblvmejustwatch chipped away at Red Rum She Wrote all the way to the finish and got up by a head at the line to prevail in 1:57.3. Rock And Twist (John Hawco) was third.
Dontblvmejustwatch ended a three-race streak of place finishes as he took his fifth win of the campaign in 21 attempts. The eight-year-old son of Hes Watching-Hudson Gal is now 29-for-149 lifetime with $106,898 in bankroll. Dana Getto trains the gelding for Randy Getto of New Waterford, N.S., Wayne Hardy of Sydney, N.S., and Susan MacSween of River Ryan, N.S. The win mutuel was $8.80.
To view Monday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Monday Results - Northside Downs.
(Standardbred Canada; photo of Big Boy Hill winning on Sept. 27)