Major Hottie took Mohawk Racetrack's handicappers by surprise as he pulled off a 39-1 upset with a sub-1:50 mile in the track's final $50,000 Open Pace of the meet on Saturday night
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With Chris Christoforou in the bike, Post 4 starter Major Hottie used his early gate speed to take control of the seven-horse field ahead of 3-5 favourite Bigtime Ball (Paul MacDonell).
The six-year-old son of Art Major reached the opening quarter in :26.4 before the parked out Ok Commander (Mike Saftic) rolled up to take over. Refusing to sit a pocket trip, Major Hottie moved right back out for the retake as they passed the :54.3 half-mile mark.
But as Major Hottie cleared the lead, Bigtime Ball came knocking at his door and edged out in front nearing the 1:21.3 three-quarters mark. Major Hottie fought back around the final turn and kicked away down the stretch to win by more than two lengths in 1:49.4. Ok Commander came on for second over Bigtime Ball.
Major Hottie returned a whopping $80.40 for the win. Stephen Charlton trains the career winner of $525,597 for the Larocque Racing Stable Inc. of Thornhill, Ont. The victory was his fifth of the season in 18 starts and lifted her 2011 earnings to $127,610.
Amidst Saturday's Ontario Sires Stakes Grassroots Championships later on the card, millionaire Hyperion Hanover wired a field of Preferred 2 pacers for a mild 8-1 upset in 1:52. Driven by Sylvain Filion for trainer Rob Fellows and the S S G Stables of North Boston, New York, the eight-year-old Camluck gelding won by a length over the quick-closing Upfront Hoosierboy (Mario Baillargeon) and pocket-sitter Fantaddy (Scott Zeron).
The lion's share of the $30,000 purse pushed his 2011 earnings over the $100,000 mark while he notched his fifth win in 33 starts this year.
Hyperion Hanover paid $19.10 to win.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Mohawk Racetrack.