Eastcoast Invader converted a pocket trip into a season's best 1:57.2 victory in Sunday afternoon's (Oct. 9) featured finale at Inverness Raceway as he nailed the longshot leader Betterthanbutter in a win photo.
Leaving from the inside post in the $2,450 Winners Over Pace, Eastcoast Invader gave way to 33-1 longshot Betterthanbutter early on and followed loosely in the pocket through splits of :29.1, :58.4 and 1:28.4 before launching his attack turning for home as the outside challengers were neutralized. Eastcoast Invader inched in with every stride through the stretch and wore down Betterthanbutter just in time for the victory. Favourite Revenant finished three lengths behind in third after a first-over journey.
Travis MacLean notched his 100th career win driving the homebred Rollwithitharry-Manhattan Delight gelding for owners Monica and Todd Sutherland of Port Hood, N.S. Monica trains the five-year-old pacer, who has won three of his 17 starts this year and picked up the 13th victory of his career.
Sent postward as the 3-1 fourth choice in the six-horse field, Eastcoast Invader returned $8.90 to win.
The field crossed the wire in exact post position order, with Eastcoast Invader topping Betterthanbutter (Zachary Mullins), Revenant (Ardon Mofford), Dam Luck (Ambrose Gillis), Thunder Alley (Douglas MacQuarrie) and last week's winner Rockemsockem Sock (Gerard Kennedy).
To view Sunday's harness racing results, click the following link: Sunday Results - Inverness Raceway.