Off a pocket trip Scorcher sprung a 50-1 upset in the first of two $7,500 eliminations for the AB Maverick Stakes at Century Mile on Sunday, Oct. 6.
Driver Nate Sobey secured a seat behind pacesetter and 2-1 favourite Crackle N Burn heading to a :28.1 opening quarter. The Custard The Dragon gelding continued to draft through a :57.1 half and past three-quarters in 1:26.2, where Crackle N Burn faced a first-over challenge from Hf Jesse James. The uncovered opponent faltered into the lane, leaving room for Scorcher to pull pocket and gun to the front through the stretch. Crackle N Burn settled for second in the 1:55 mile, two-and-a-half lengths off the winner. Bad Moon Rising, stalking the top two, held third.
Returning $102.20 to win, Scorcher collected his fourth victory from 23 starts, earning $17,652. Trainer Stephen Crump co-owns the winner with Kelly Crump.
Outlawgrabbingears strolled to an open-length victory in the second Maverick elimination, pacing the mile in 1:52.2.
Trainer-driver Paul Davies floated the Smart Shark gelding into fifth as Outlaw Gunsablazin ventured for the lead past a :28.1 opening quarter. Hf Thegreatpumpkin yielded for the pocket entering the backstretch while Davies angled Outlawgrabbingears wide and pursued command moving to a :56.2 half.
Moving to the final turn Outlawgrabbingears took control. Outlaw Aceofspades, tracking the new-leader’s move, raced uncovered heading to three-quarters in 1:24.1 but gave chase with Outlaw Gunsablazin straightening for the finish. Outlawgrabbingears won by five-and-a-quarter lengths while Outlaw Gunsablazin maintained second from Outlaw Aceofspades. Jewels Dragon, the 2-1 favourite, never got into contention.
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Co-owned by Davies with Nicole Davies and Deborah Pinel, Outlawgrabbingears won his 15th race from 24 starts this season, earning $219,885. He paid $9.60 to win.
Icy Blue Scooter pressed first over as the 9-5 favourite in the $9,000 co-featured Open Pace to win in 1:53.1. The six-year-old Blue Burner gelding sat fifth to a :27.3 first quarter before trainer-driver Nate Sobey sent the betting choice after pacesetter Retros Mystery moving to a :57.2 half. He continued to dig into the leader through three-quarters in 1:25.3 and eventually edged three-quarter lengths in front of Retros Mystery to win. Ima Dude, riding the pocket, took third.
Sobey co-owns Icy Blue Scooter, who won his 12th race from 23 starts this season and his 24th from 113 overall, with Diane Bertrand and Robert Gilhespy. He has earned $168,715 and paid $5.80 to win.
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click on the following link: Sunday Results - Century Mile.