Keith Clark trainee Snap Test swung off cover from third over and rolled past late-race leader Marlons Magic to pull a 23-1 surprise in the first of two $10,000 eliminations for the Western Canada Pacing Derby at Northlands Park on Saturday, Oct. 6.
Driver Phil Giesbrecht positioned the Test Flight gelding in fifth as Ready N Steady, from post seven, rushed for the lead into a :27 opening quarter. Freedoms Rescue sat to the outside of pocket-sitter and 1-2 favourite Screen Test heading to the half mile as Marlons Magic, from sixth, edged off the rail through a :55.2 half.
Marlons Magic marched towards the lead heading to the third-quarter, timed in 1:24.1, while Ready N Steady battled back to the inside in second. Snap Test tipped off the rail and towards the center of the track rounding the final turn, powering to the lead in the stretch as Mortgage My Villa, off a rail trip, veered around competition for second. Marlons Magic faded to third.
Returning $48.70 to win, Snap Test won his second race in 19 starts this season and his third in 27 overall, earning $42,023 for owners Clark, Doris McDougall and Archie Benekos.
Cheddar Jack took the second elimination going wire to wire in 1:54.1, giving trainer Rod Hennessy his fourth win on the card.
Leaving from post one, Cheddar Jack led Workin Them Angels by two lengths through a :28.1 opening quarter. Custards Laststand, from third, pulled first over heading to the half in :58 and parked by Cheddar Jack's wheel through three-quarters in 1:25.3. Cheddar Jack spun into the stretch with a two-length lead and strolled to the finish with Custards Laststand holding second from Workin Them Angels in third.
Owned by Lorne Duffield and Diane Hennessy, Cheddar Jack won his eighth race from 18 starts this season and his 10th from 26 overall, earning $126,400. The gelding by Betterthancheddar, driven by Michael Hennessy, paid $6.00 to win.
Hennessy collected a natural hat trick alongside his stakes win Saturday. He won a $5,000 maiden pace with Go Away N Play ($8.80) by six-and-a-quarter lengths in 1:59.3, a $5,000 maiden pace with June Morning ($8.40) by a half length in 2:01 and a $5,400 conditioned pace with Tap The Keg ($5.60) going wire to wire in 1:55.3.
Trainer David Lamont also won three races on the card, sweeping the early double with Young Drunk Punk ($2.70) winning a $6,200 conditoned pace by seven-and-three-quarter lengths in 1:53.4 and a $4,200 claiming handicap pace with Take On Da Boys ($3.60) winning by two-and-a-half lengths going wire to wire in 1:56.2. Lamont's third win came after Hennessy's hat trick when Blink And Gone ($5.40) wired her competition in a $5,400 conditioned pace timed in 1:57.1.
To view Saturday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Saturday Results - Northlands Park.