Eleven of Northside Downs' top pacers faced off in the first round of the Octoberfest Pacing Series on Saturday afternoon in North Sydney, N.S. with Truth Or Dare and Game Zac taking top honours in their respective $1,200 divisions
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Driver Ryan Campbell made the winning move when he pulled Truth Or Dare from the pocket and swept to command near the half-mile mark in the first division. The seven-year-old gelding, fresh off a win in the Neil J Campbell Memorial, then kicked away from the field of five to secure the 1:58.4 victory by five and a quarter lengths. D Island Rebel (Greg Bailey) and Aahm Cruisin (Alex MacQuarrie) finished second and third.
Truth Or Dare paid $3.60 to win as the bettor's choice. The son of Camluck-Virginia Dare, who has won one-third of his 33 seasonal starts, is trained by Walter Walker, who also co-owns with Kayla Anne Habicht of Inverness, N.S. The win was No. 37 for the career winner of more than $90,000.
Game Zac was a gate-to-wire winner in the next division for trainer-driver Alex MacNeil. The six-year-old gelding cruised to a 1:58.2 victory by one and a half lengths over pocket-sitter Sir Dutch (Bruce McGean). Shifty Shadow (Corey Romeo) finished five lengths behind in third. Even-money favourite Romanie Ranger (Chris MacIsaac) took a shot at the pacesetter nearing the third quarter mark but only made it within a length of the leader before fading to fifth.
Game Zac paid $4.10 to win as the slight second choice in the field of six. Kevin Gillis of Windsor, Ont. owns the son of Expensive Scooter-Game Xoxa, a winner of six races in 24 starts this year. His 19th lifetime win today pushed his bankroll over the $70,000 mark.
For results from Saturday's harness racing card, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.