Igot Socks feuded first-over with Dont Ask Logan throughout the back half in the $4,000 Celtic Financial Series final and prevailed by a head in the back-and-forth battle on Saturday, Oct. 3 at Northside Downs.
Igot Socks raced outside through much of the :27.3 first quarter, then briefly dropped into the two-hole on the turn before reemerging to march on leader Dont Ask Logan (Mark Pezzarello) to the half in :57.3. Igot Socks crept forward through the turn and down the backstretch, edging ahead by a half-length at three-quarters in 1:27.2, but Dont Ask Logan replied on the turn to enter the lane on level terms. The two clashed to the line, but an indomitable Igot Socks reached up for the 1:58.3 score. Mj Rae (Andrew MacLean) finished third.
Igot Socks has now won four of his last five starts, including his Celtic Financial Series elimination, after starting the season one-for-11. Don Beaton trains the Lambretta-Reimburse gelding, now 31-for-107 lifetime with $60,465 in earnings, and co-owns him with Anita Gillis of Judique, N.S. The win price was $7.10.
Boys Turn ($7.50) took the $2,500 Celtic Financial Series Consolation in 1:59.3 with Adam Lynk aboard for trainer Lawrence Snow.
Alritealritealrite went all the way to repeat in the $1,600 Winners Over Pace in 1:56.3. The Heather Hawkins-trained stallion shot out from the rail and led the field in post-position order to the quarter in :29.1 but was under fire from the first-over Hugh Heff (Randy Getto) through the half in :58.4 and three-quarters in 1:27.1. Alritealritealrite repelled Hugh Heff turning for home, then held off a circling Ranked Contender (Zach Mullins) to win by three-quarters of a length. Hugh Heff finished with grit for third.
Alritealritealrite, a resident of the Winners Over class since the summer, has 10 wins from his 23 starts this year. The five-year-old son of Lazarus N-Hot Spot Hanover was acquired by owners Terri Morrison of Marion Bridge, N.S., Irwin Claener of New Waterford, N.S., Kirk MacRae of Ben Eoin, N.S and Angus MacEachern of Howie Center, N.S in March. He is now 13-for-70 with $198,962 in career earnings. The win payout was $3.30.
To view Saturday’s harness racing results, click the following link: Saturday Results - Northside Downs.
(Standardbred Canada)